Civic Activism as a Novel Component of Armenian Civil Society

The best way to develop a society is to create a public dialogue: open discourse about
plans, reforms and also minor activities in every sector. This will help energise responsible
citizens who are prepared to demand their rights. In a developed civil society, each individual
realises his or her own power and potential to change things and act accordingly. There is a
group of people in Armenia who fit this definition. Most of our interviewees consider such
developments not only possible but also the only way forward.
Two things that will change the established order are public turnout and trust (increased
trust in the possibility of change). Therefore, developing a deliberative culture will be the main
tool to achieve change. The society should work to learn methods and ways to achieve justice
through peaceful resistance; there is no other way to achieve it. Resistance should not be the aim.
However, it should be considered a serious method to achieve aims.
Uniting different groups of people and spreading such practices throughout the regions of
the country is another important consideration. The most active groups should seek to unite
different social groups, organisations, and activists as such unity will lead to strength. The
Armenian society should develop to involve self-organisation of larger groups.
Armenia needs a culture of free and fair elections. The population’s trust in institutions
will also increase once the public learns that representatives are elected according to their will –
based on free and fair elections. Armenia has to rehabilitate its political party sector. Armenia
lacks a developed political party system. Armenia needs its young bright individuals to become a
part of the political structure. This is only possible by first becoming a part of political parties.
However the overwhelming majority of high-quality, educated individuals (mostly youth)
refuses to become a part of any political party, arguing that they do not want to become ‘dirty’.
How can they change something instrumental otherwise? We need them involved to ensure that
individuals change the system, not the other way around. To quote a 32-year-old female activist,
“Civic initiatives are important for changing the culture, to develop alternative thinking;
however, in order to achieve political changes people have to strive to be included in
political institutions, to engage in the political sphere for political changes.”
Armenia has to urgently consider its economic development, developing business
opportunities to create an environment in which people wish to stay and develop a sense of
security and public wellbeing. Armenia must consider creating value, developing economically,
creating jobs, and investing generated income to secure sustainable development.
To conclude, Armenia does not need a new society but a new societal definition in terms
of understanding the public’s roles and responsibilities. Increased understanding and
development of social responsibility will contribute to realising a quality society and the
formation of a new, responsible body of citizens. Armenian society is in an ideological crisis. It
is possible to address this crisis if much work is done in a variety of sectors and by diverse
actors.
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