Tag: opinion

March 22, 2024
Towards a Franco-Armenian Strategic Partnership?

Towards a Franco-Armenian Strategic Partnership?

The Coordinating Council of Armenian Associations in France recently hosted its annual dinner in Paris against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions and concerns over Armenia's security. The focus shifted to the role of France in implementing deterrence measures and sanctions against Azerbaijan.

February 29, 2024
The Eagle and the Trident

The Eagle and the Trident

With Zelenskyy’s potential visit to Armenia in the coming days, Justin Tomczyk writes that Ukraine’s experience over the past two years can provide insights into how smaller democracies must fight against their larger, authoritarian neighbors.

February 28, 2024
Lenin in the Periphery: Self-Determination and Its Discontents

Lenin in the Periphery: Self-Determination and Its Discontents

Over 30 years ago, a statue of Lenin towered over the heart of Yerevan until it was dismantled. The recent centennial of Lenin’s death went mostly unnoticed in Armenia but it might have sparked reflection on Lenin’s impact during the Sovietization of Armenia and how his definition of self-determination has had consequences on contemporary geopolitics.

February 19, 2024
Between State and Fatherland: A Tale of Two Mountains

Between State and Fatherland: A Tale of Two Mountains

Mount Ararat doesn't stand as an obstacle to building a functional state, and suddenly loving Mount Aragats will not help us achieve our goals. Before we jettison our national symbols en masse, we need concrete plans and state-driven programs to improve the lives of an already beleaguered nation, writes Daniel Tahmazyan.

February 5, 2024
Can Armenia Be Independent?

Can Armenia Be Independent?

In a voluminous collection of texts, historian and former diplomat Jirair Libaridian examines the reasons behind the moral, military and intellectual defeat of the Armenian elite in the context of three issues: the contemporary history of the Republic of Armenia, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and Armenian-Turkish relations.

June 10, 2022

Ձայնագիր. Ինչու է Հայաստանին պետք ռեալպոլիտիկ, հիմա՛

«Կարծիք» բաժնում հրապարակված՝ Գևորգ Օսկանյանի «Ինչու է Հայաստանին պետք ռեալպոլիտիկ, հիմա՛» հոդվածի ձայնագիրը։ Ընթերցում է Գոհար Աբրահամյանը։ Ավելի քան 30 տարիների ընթացքում մշտապես խոսվել է Հայաստանի ազգային նպատակների արդարացիության և չափազանց քիչ` այդ նպատակներին հասնելու միջոցների և ընտրված նպատակների իրագործելիության մասին:

June 4, 2022

Ձայնագիր. Արցախ-Ուկրաինա. Հայաստանը` երկու պատերազմի արանքում

«Կարծիք» բաժնում հրապարակված՝ Կայծ Մինասեանի «Արցախ-Ուկրաինա. Հայաստանը` երկու պատերազմի արանքում» հոդվածի ձայնագիրը: Ընթերցում է Սոնա Ներսեսյանը: Փետրվարի 24-ին Ռուսաստանի ներխուժումից հետո Ուկրաինայում ծավալվող իրադարձությունների շուրջ չդադարող լարվածության պայմաններում և 2020 թվականին Արցախում պարտությունից հետո Հայաստանն ինչպե՞ս կարող է դուրս գալ ահագնացող հակամարտությունների այս շղթայից:

February 1, 2022

Central Asia’s Shifting Geopolitics

A power vacuum was created after the pullout of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, allowing China, Russia, Iran, and also Turkey to play a greater role in Central Asia triggering new developments. What does that mean for the wider region?

January 23, 2022
Armeno-Turkish Dialogue Before 1991

Armeno-Turkish Dialogue Before 1991

Representatives of Armenia and Turkey met in Moscow on January 14, 2022 for the first round of bilateral negotiations. Gaidz Minassian looks back at various stages of Armeno-Turkish dialogue before Armenia restored its independence in 1991.

May 11, 2021

Geography is Inescapable

Following Moscow’s facilitation of the ceasefire agreement ending the 2020 Artsakh War, some are asking whether Armenia should pursue “more Russia or less Russia.” The reality of the matter is that geography is inescapable.

April 5, 2021
Armenia’s Trump

Armenia’s Trump

Although Nikol Pashinyan and Donald Trump are different in demeanor and policy, both lean heavily on the populist playbook. Each is more comfortable fighting against resistant forces rather than governing through institutions.

March 7, 2020

It Has To Be Said: She

In this week’s “It Has To Be Said” editorial, Maria Titizian reflects on the latest domestic violence case in Armenia that left a woman dead and her 13-year-old daughter fighting for her life.

November 12, 2019
Is the Diaspora Patriotic Enough?

Is the Diaspora Patriotic Enough?

If we are to develop and build a functional relationship between the Homeland and the Armenian Diaspora, we need to understand the discrepancy between the Diaspora’s devotion to Armenianness and the Republic of Armenia’s vision for the Armenian world.

October 30, 2019
A Crime Against Humanity, History and Memory

A Crime Against Humanity, History and Memory

After a decades-long struggle by the Armenian-American community, the U.S. House of Representatives officially recognized the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Maria Titizian writes about the significance of this resolution for her and all Armenians, despite the motivations behind the vote.

December 2, 2018

Black or White? No, Thank You

The divisive “black or white” tone of the political campaign is not lending itself to the very ideals that the Velvet Revolution promised - pluralism, choices, diversity and freedom. On Election Day, people should vote according to their conscience and preferences, not out of pressure to be with the “right” crowd.

November 20, 2018

No Parliament for Rich, Old Men

Dr. Nerses Kopalyan provides an in-depth analysis of the parties and coalition of parties that are running for the Dec. 9 snap parliamentary elections. Of the 11 political forces preparing for the campaign, Kopalyan writes, only six are competitive and have the capacity to influence and effect the policy discourse during the campaign.

October 24, 2018
Waiting For the Opposition

Waiting For the Opposition

Following the Velvet Revolution and the ensuing political instability, it seems residents in Armenia will be heading to the polls in snap parliamentary elections in December. The issue of the formation of a constructive political opposition has been part of the public discourse over the past several months.

October 3, 2018
Backroom Machinations and the Shadow of a Mandate

Backroom Machinations and the Shadow of a Mandate

The dramatic events of October 2, highlights the fundamental political paradox in Armenia – a Prime Minister with no parliamentary majority governs the executive branch in a parliamentary republic – and we experienced both sides “flexing their muscles” to demonstrate their respective powers, Raffi Kassarjian writes.

December 10, 2017
Dignity, Human Rights and the Politician

Dignity, Human Rights and the Politician

How we treat the most vulnerable in our society is a reflection of ourselves. December 10 is Human Rights Day – the day the UN General Assembly, in 1948, adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In this essay, Maria Titizian writes about dignity and how certain politicians view the condition of Armenia's poverty-stricken.

December 5, 2017
The Value of a Woman’s Life

The Value of a Woman’s Life

Armenia’s parliament is set to discuss a bill on domestic violence that was significantly watered down after pressure from conservative groups and the ruling Republican Party. In this opinion piece, Maria Titizian ponders how a nation that reveres mothers and the traditional Armenian family can be divided on the necessity for such a law.

July 20, 2017
Misplaced Fear

Misplaced Fear

At the height of the Erebuni siege last year by the Daredevils of Sassoun, a group of journalists were allowed into the compound. "Misplaced Fear" is a journalistic and a photographic essay by Roubina Margossian, who was working for CivilNet at the time and provides an inside view of the events that day and also reflects on developments of the past year.

July 5, 2017
How to Work with Russia?

How to Work with Russia?

Why did Armenia not take more proactive measures when it knew that Moscow was actively developing its military-political dialogue with Baku? In this analysis, Areg Galstyan looks at the complex relationships in the South Caucasus and policies that Russia implements with both Armenia and Azerbaijan.