Problems of Armenia's political culture discussed on State of Play

In the latest episode of the analytical program State of Play, host Maria Titizian and political scientist Dr. Nerses Kopalyan discussed the deep-seated causes of the crisis of political culture in Armenia, using the recent scuffle among members of parliament as an example. As reported by EVN Report, the focus of the broadcast was the question of why informal customs and traditional concepts of honor continue to dominate over the country's legal and institutional mechanisms.

The interlocutors analyzed in detail the normalization of aggressive behavior in the public sphere, masculinity, as well as the influence of the Soviet and post-Soviet legacy, which manifested itself in the form of clannishness, kinship ties, and shadow agreements. The experts drew attention to the paradoxical situation where Armenians show sincere love for their homeland and national culture, but face difficulties in forming respect for the state as an institution.

Within the framework of the broadcast, the parties discussed the interconnection between culture and institutional building, the results of the Velvet Revolution, and the limits of regulating political norms through laws. According to the researchers, the key factors for improving the environment remain the introduction of meritocracy, the development of civic responsibility, consideration of the role of Western education, and the inevitable change of generations in the leadership of society.