Editorial

Popular movements. 1988 and 2018
the differences

MAY 11, 2018

The so-called “velvet” Armenian revolution or, perhaps,
they directly compare the change of power to the popular movement of 1988
with. Both were followed by mass actions, both nationwide
they had brought about a great wave of awakening. The similarities end there. Two
the essences of the movements are different and different culture and
they have worldviews.

Soviet
Armenian citizens were brought up in Shiraz and Paruyr Sevak 
with poetry. They were the patriots who dreamed of Ararat and the lost
about the return to the homeland. A Soviet raised on the genocide syndrome
generations dreamed of a rematch, and that accumulated energy erupted
in 1988. Local pogroms of Armenians in Azerbaijan were perceived by many as 1915
continuation of the genocide of

in 1988
there was only one unifying goal: “Karabakh is ours”. “Connection” and “Fight,
fight to the end” slogans of any worldview, state building
they did not contain problems. It was exclusively a bid for historical revenge. For the sake of Artsakh
people were ready to endure hunger, tolerate corruption and
illegalities and, finally, killed. There was not even a demand for independence.
and if it was discussed, then only in the context of the unification of Armenia and Artsakh
as a possible scenario to achieve that goal. There was one overarching goal and everything else
what was secondary.

Movement
as a result, the forces that came to power speculated on this issue until 2018.
It was no coincidence that the RPA and Serzh Sargsyan kept declaring that they
will remain in power until the Artsakh issue is resolved, and public
during the uprisings, they were threatened with tension on the border. The issue of Artsakh
held the public hostage. The opposition is represented by ANC
Levon Ter-Petrosyan, was also manipulating that problem, or only Azerbaijan?
it is possible to solve security and economic problems by making concessions.

Although
To the only “social order” of the public in 1988, the leadership of Armenia
In 1991, hidden from the public, Artsakh was recognized as part of Azerbaijan (CIS, and later
at the time of joining the OSCE) and even in that matter it was not a popular demand
was done, but the speculation continued. The public was disoriented.
was not informed that the Armenian authorities were under their control
while keeping Artsakh, they ceded the right to it to Azerbaijan.

anyway
Since 1988, the public has delegated one demand to the government: to annex Artsakh
Armenia. There was no other social order and “public contract”.

of 2018
the movement still needs to be reflected. “Reject Serzh” slogan, except
from the most important principle of establishment, that is, punishment for deceiving the public
submission also has other content, which still needs to be formulated. Reject
Serge means rejecting the system and relationships that
were formed during the last 25 years. The deeper meaning of that relationship
it still needs to be discovered and formulated. It’s not just about relationships
are the rules that turned Armenia into a swamp, but also those relations
based institutions to be RESTARTed. One thing is certain: new to us
a social contract is needed, and the Artsakh problem can only be solved anew
based on the facts. The public will no longer fall into mental traps
to throw

1988
was based on old myths and concepts, 2018 is breaking the old with the new
to build relationships.