Where We Stand
Armenia today stands at a political crossroads. Although parliamentary democracy formally functions, the emotional landscape of the country tells a different story:
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Fatigue.
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Disillusionment.
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A crisis of representation.
Since the 2018 revolution, hope has slowly given way to skepticism. Governments change, rhetoric shifts, but the feeling of being unheard remains.
A Crisis of Trust
Surveys conducted in 2024 revealed that over 70% of Armenians feel disconnected from political processes. The reasons are structural and emotional:
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Partisan polarization has turned politics into a binary battlefield.
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Lack of long-term vision has made governance reactive rather than strategic.
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Oligarchic influences still distort economic and legislative decisions.
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Opposition fragmentation makes change appear impossible.
As a result, people turn away from politics altogether — or worse, embrace fatalism.
The Shift in Political Culture
Despite this, something powerful is happening beneath the surface.
Armenians are becoming more issue-oriented, more digitally active, and more value-driven. They care less about personalities and more about:
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Social justice
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Economic fairness
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Transparency
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Accountability
This is not just a shift in opinion — it’s the seed of a new political culture.
What Should Change
New Political Actors
Civil society, journalists, researchers, and even independent businesses must step into the vacuum left by parties.
Restoring Dialogue
Government and opposition alike must stop speaking only to their base. The art of persuasion — not attack — must return to politics.
Public Research as Compass
Real-time public opinion research is essential. Not just before elections, but as an ongoing democratic tool.
Media as Mediator
Independent media should not only report on politics but frame it — based on facts, people’s needs, and shared values.
Final Word
Armenia doesn't suffer from apathy. It suffers from betrayal — of hopes, promises, and shared visions.
But the solution is not cynicism. It is reconstruction.
Rebuilding the social contract between state and society — with new tools, new voices, and renewed integrity.
By Lida Nalbandyan, Founder and CEO of Octopus Media Group