In this episode of It Has to Be Said, Maria Titizian examines how fear has become one of the dominant tools of Armenia’s parliamentary election campaign. From warnings of war and economic collapse to narratives about “Turkification” and a so-called “Ukraine scenario,” domestic and external actors are increasingly weaponizing public anxiety and collective trauma instead of debating policy and governance.
As Armenia heads toward elections amid deep regional uncertainty, how do voters separate legitimate security concerns from political manipulation? And what happens to democracy when fear replaces informed debate?
In this episode:
• How fear is being used as a political campaign strategy
• Narratives about war, Russia, Turkey and national identity
• Why collective trauma makes societies vulnerable to manipulation
• The difference between acknowledging risk and weaponizing fear
• Why elections should focus on policy, governance and competing visions
• The danger of apathy and emotional exhaustion during campaigns
