Opinion

Moldova’s quiet resilience tells a story of survival. Political analyst Mikayel Zolyan traces how this small nation confronted Russian hybrid warfare, reclaimed its democratic voice, and reflects on what its hard-won lessons might mean for Armenia’s struggle against disinformation and dependence.

At a time when multilateralism is faltering and power politics dominate international relations, micro-states and small powers can still exist, assert themselves on the world stage, and turn vulnerability into strength—becoming indispensable to others.

In this raw exploration of excessive masculinity and violence within the Hayastantsi subculture of 1990s Los Angeles, Nerses Kopalyan examines the ontological roots of aggression that shaped a generation, and how that mentality has mutated into an incoherent, hybridized identity in the decades since.

More than two months after the Washington declaration, Tatev Hayrapetyan examines the widening gap between Baku’s diplomatic vows with on-the-ground reality: inflammatory rhetoric, sham trials, expansionist “Western Azerbaijan” narratives and divergent TRIPP talk signaling a performative peace narrative.

Long seen as a pillar of Armenian identity, the Apostolic Church now finds its relationship with the state strained. Political change, postwar trauma, and institutional mistrust have blurred boundaries between spiritual and secular authority, raising urgent questions about legitimacy, governance, the need for reform and the Church’s role in public life.

As Armenia stands at another historic crossroads, Gaïdz Minassian explores the country’s defining tension between the force of the norm—law, sovereignty and peace, and the norm of force—justice, identity and conflict, asking which path will shape Armenia’s future.

Judicial independence in Armenia is more than legal rules; it is a matter of culture, perception and action. Gor Samvel broadens the debate, examining how law, ethics, and societal forces intersect, and calling for rigorous research to inform public understanding.

Armenia did not achieve a sustainable, guaranteed peace on August 8. Rather, Armenia secured the opportunity to earn that peace by doubling down on efforts to become the primary guarantor of its security and prosperity, writes Raffi Kassarjian.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process highlights the enduring tension between peace and justice. While legal rulings create certainty, they often fail victims. True reconciliation, experts argue, requires context-specific approaches where peace and justice coexist, even if one must yield to the other.

The Washington documents mark a new stage in Armenia-Azerbaijan talks, lowering the risk of renewed war for at least three years, writes Davit Petrosyan. Armenia’s challenge is to use this window of opportunity to strengthen its security and spur economic development, as the real outcome hinges on what follows, not what’s signed.