Moscow’s Test of Loyalty

Unleashed

Deus ex Absurdo

Aug 10, 2026

Why do we turn celebrities, influencers and political leaders into modern-day gods? Sheila Paylan explores

the psychology of hero worship, personality cults and our willingness to surrender critical thinking in exchange for admiration and belonging.

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Progress, Interrupted

Sheila Paylan

Jul 6, 2026

Drawing from a deeply personal chapter of her life, Sheila Paylan reflects on the hard,

often unflattering work of trying to become better. Exploring relapse, discipline and self-forgiveness, she argues that progress is not erased by the moments we fall, but revealed in how we rise again.

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Vote for [Blank]

Sheila Paylan

Jun 1, 2026

As Armenia heads to the polls, Sheila Paylan reflects on the meaning of voting, the

temptation of strategic choices, and why the only truly wasted vote is the one never cast.

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Outside In

A Bathtub in Stepanavan

Maria Gunko

Jul 16, 2026

An awkwardly placed bathtub in a Stepanavan hotel room is more than an odd design

choice. Maria Gunko traces its unlikely connections to Armenia's recent past, exploring how ordinary objects absorb history, adapt to necessity and quietly tell stories of survival.

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A Country Blessed By Mountains

Maria Gunko

Jun 17, 2026

From the forests of Lori to the volcanic slopes of Azhdahak, Maria Gunko explores Armenia’s

mountains where landscapes become archives of geology, history and memory, and where hiking offers a rare escape from the noise of contemporary life.

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Ani, Where Khachkars Lie Face Down in the Dust

Maria Gunko

May 25, 2026

A journey to the medieval Armenian capital of Ani becomes an exploration of memory, erasure

and cultural survival. Traveling through Turkey to reach the ruins visible from Armenia’s closed border, Maria Gunko reflects on heritage, identity, historical loss and the politics of preserving, and silencing, the past.

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Art Speak

Carol Peligian: Inscribing the Female Body Into Contemporary Art

Christopher Atamian

Jul 8, 2026

Through painting, sculpture and installation, Armenian-American artist Carol Peligian transforms the female body into a

site of memory, identity and resilience. Christopher Atamian explores a career shaped by feminism, Armenian heritage and an enduring fascination with the mysteries of human existence.

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Agrippina Reclaimed: Diana Arterian’s Feminist Excavation

Christopher Atamian

Jun 12, 2026

In “Agrippina the Younger: Poems”, Diana Arterian blends poetry, history and critical reflection to reclaim

one of antiquity’s most misunderstood women. Christopher Atamian explores how this award-winning collection challenges inherited narratives and reimagines the relationship between literature, memory and historical truth.

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Fear, Patriarchy and the Politics of Scapegoating

Christopher Atamian

Apr 7, 2026

In this sharp, provocative review of “Survival of a Perverse Nation: Morality and Queer Possibility

in Armenia”, Christopher Atamian examines how fear, patriarchy and scapegoating shape modern Armenia, while also opening space for new, more inclusive futures beyond the politics of “survival.”

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Beyond Borders

Moscow’s Test of Loyalty

Olesya Vartanyan

Aug 17, 2026

After Armenia's elections, Moscow has responded with demands, warnings and new trade restrictions rather than

congratulations. As pressure from Russia mounts, Armenia faces a defining question: return to old dependencies or continue pursuing a more independent and diversified foreign policy.

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What Cyprus Teaches About Living With an Unresolved Conflict

Olesya Vartanyan

Jul 13, 2026

Every conflict is different, but some offer broader lessons. Cyprus suggests that societies need not

choose between a final peace settlement and perpetual confrontation. There is a third path: gradually building ways to live, communicate and cooperate even while the core conflict remains unresolved.

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Where Pashinyan Is Right, and Where He May Be Mistaken About Georgia

Olesya Vartanyan

Mar 16, 2026

Speaking at the European Parliament, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called for renewed political dialogue

between Georgia and the EU. While the appeal underscores the importance of engagement, without concrete proposals it risks adding little to efforts to resolve Georgia’s prolonged political crisis.

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Tech Matters

Riding the AI Juggernaut

Raffi Kassarjian

May 29, 2025

Artificial Intelligence is evolving at breakneck speed, reshaping industries and accelerating innovation. Raffi Kassarjian explores

the exponential growth in data, algorithms and processing power, highlighting how Armenia is carving out a meaningful place in the global AI value chain.

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Investing in the “Software” of Innovation

Raffi Kassarjian

Mar 11, 2025

Silicon Valley’s success is driven by a combination of talent, capital and culture. Raffi Kassarjian

explains how Armenia can apply these principles to boost its own tech ecosystem, highlighting local strengths, growing investment and the importance of global connections.

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