Civic Activism as a Novel Component of Armenian Civil Society

increase of feeling of loneliness. Now, when involved, I found out that I am not alone, and
there are other likeminded people thinking about the problems the way I do. It is not a
desert. The greatest impact has been getting exposed to the system of mutual support and
encouragement. All the people I have known as a result of my involvement have become a
system of mutual support, understanding and care. This has been the greatest change in
my life.” Female, 35
It is essential to highlight a story of certain visible activists, whose involvement dates
back to the sadly famous events of 1 March 2008. The 2008 presidential elections culminated in
clashes (resulting in deaths) between supporters of Armenia’s first President, Levon Ter-
Petrosyan (who decided to return to politics), and then-Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan’s regime
forces. This became a starting point for some people to rethink the social and political situation
facing the country. These developments paved the way for their activist manifestation. In the
words of one activist,
“When people die one starts thinking about the reasons. Thinking about the reasons
which led to the events, was an important factor for my engagement into active public
life.” Male, 28
For some, physical activism (defined as on the street) has been a gradual process
supported by change in methods. For example, active physical participation in the campaigns
was a result of previous incremental activities, such as signing petitions, being active on social
media, writing complaint letters and so forth. Hence, being a part of different initiatives helps
people to develop new methods and skills for future resistance. Moreover, participation has a
contaminating nature: being a part of one initiative facilitates joining others. People seem to
become attached to whatever is happening.
For Armenian region-based activists, the fact of being from another region in itself
contributed to becoming active citizens. Their communities were passive and lacked
participation, and thus, they decided to take the lead. The visibility of Yerevan-based campaigns
served as triggers for many region-based citizens to pursue such activity and led to region-based
activism transformation.
In speaking of particular campaign-involvement experience, some active participants
admit that their engagement was conditioned by a factor of immediate consequence that would
result from a new policy change. For example, in the Maternity Leave campaign, there were
participants who joined simply because they planned to become mothers, and this was an
important issue for them. Some other participants noted that while protesting, other people
walking nearby would approach them and ask whether they were expecting. Thus, there is a
public perception of protesters being opposed to a certain policy because the policy would have a
direct effect on them. In one activist’s words,
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