Vicken Cheterian - Mediamax.am

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February 20, 2026
Vicken Cheterian
Vicken Cheterian
Swiss-Lebanese historian, journalist and author
Kazakhstan Intifada: Central Asia’s Full Circle It took only four days of popular uprising for the 32 year-old regime of Nursultan Nazarbayev, in power since 1989, to collapse. Looking at the falling statues one cannot feel but owe and surprise. On the other hand, it was inevitable: political regimes that do not reform constantly while their societies evolve rapidly, harden and all of a sudden shatter like glass.
Armenia’s Revolution Betrayed Snap Parliamentary Elections will be held in Armenia on June 20. Will anything survive from the promises of the 2018 peaceful revolution?
Diaspora-Armenia Relations: Are we ready for a serious discussion? The 2020 defeat was not only that of Armenia, but also the failure of Diaspora politics. For the Armenian Diaspora it should be a starting point for a radical reappraisal of policies followed in the past thirty years. Only after that we can start a serious dialogue – not folklore! – about Armenia-Diaspora relations. But are we ready for that?
Political Crisis in Armenia and Georgia A deep political crisis is evolving in two of the South Caucasus republics, in Armenia and Georgia. Street demonstrations and protest actions are daily events in the capitals Tbilisi and Yerevan. An atmosphere of polarization, radicalization and intolerance reflects the depth of the crisis. Looking at those two countries together in a comparative approach helps us to see those events not as unique, but systemic. It helps us contextualize, look at structural causes rather than focus on the role of individuals.
How the Failed Arab Spring Changed Our World It was ten years ago, on the evening of January 14, 2011, when the long-term authoritarian ruler of Tunisia Zein al-Abidin Ben Ali escaped to Saudi Arabia. The Tunisian army refused his orders to supress mass demonstrations that had started on December 17, 2010, after the self-immolation of Mohammad Bouazizi. The 23-year long autocratic rule was over. The regime change in Tunisia triggered massive popular movements through what was called the "Arab Spring”.
Causes and Consequences of Defeat The Second Karabakh War and the Armenian military defeat have caused a deep shock within the Armenian public opinion. The shock is the result of the huge gap between the dominant ideas within the Armenian political class as well as the public opinion before the war and the results of the military confrontation.
Social Origins of Armenia’s Ruling Class and Protest Movement The miscalculation of Serzh Sargsyan and manipulating constitutional changes back in December 2015 in order to stay in power for a third term and more has backfired and ignited popular anger. This was an innovation in Armenia’s politics as neither the first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, nor the second President Robert Kocharyan – in spite of their own shortcomings regarding democracy and rule of law – had not dared to claim a third term.
It’s Time to Talk about the Diaspora The 6th Armenia-Diaspora conference in Yerevan is important in itself: it is an occasion for Armenians from all around the world to meet with each other. It will give yet another boost to the tourism sector of Armenia already after a record year in 2017. Yet, the conference will remain short-sighted and produce short-term benefits. While most commentators have raised the issue that preoccupies most intellectuals both in Armenia and Diaspora which is the out-migration from Armenia and the resulting demographic problem – curiously not on the agenda of the discussions – I will argue that Armenia-Diaspora relations will remain problematic as long as we do not address the power imbalance between the two parties.
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