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The Decline of Armenian Nationalism
http://asbarez.com/108314/the-decline-of-armenian-nationalism/
Friday, February 15th, 2013 | Posted by Contributor
The 2013 Presidential campaign
BY HRANT APOVIAN
I am a soldier [the nation] is my commander
I obey without question all its orders
with closed eyes I carry out my duty.
Ziya Gökalp
The upcoming elections in Armenia do not bode well for the future of
our nation. The absence of viable candidates, the lack of political
debate, devoid of any discussion of national survival issues is
tantamount to collective suicide.
What is taking us headlong to the edge of the precipice is the lack of
discussion regarding matters of national importance, national
security, national identity, foreign policy, survival of the
republic - our survival as a nation.
Our compatriots in Armenia are waging a war on poverty, trying very
hard to make a living and alternately leaving for better prospects
abroad. Our people in the Diaspora are waging a war for survival in
the midst of upheavals in the Middle East and leaving for better
prospects in the West, and eventually losing their identity by the
assimilation Tsunami.
The result is a rapid deterioration of Nationalism in our people: That
deep seated belief in our national identity, of being one nation, one
people, fighting against occupation, against tyranny, against
persecution that took a hundred fifty years to erupt and to evolve,
that Rafi inspired; The revolutionary fervor that energized
revolutionary parties, and vaccinated so many brave men and women is
on its way to extinction.
The reality among Armenia's ruling government circles is that the
perception and understanding of foreign policy as to what is in the
interest of the survival of the Armenian Nation, is not based on our
National Security Interests.
The ill fated protocol treaty signed by the Armenian Government is one
instance of a total lack of understanding of national security
concerns for Armenia. It will engulf Armenia in a forced capitulation
of our national rights and will severely damage the quest for justice
for the Armenian Genocide.
The ongoing presidential debates are devoid of a national discussion
of foreign policy issues. Depletion of Armenia's Population is thought
of as a propaganda tool used by the opposition, but not a serious
threat, and the uneven distribution of wealth in Armenia is looked
upon as a consequence of Capitalism in the New World Order.
We are getting ready to commemorate the hundredth Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. This is being looked at as a decisive milestone in
our quest for justice at last. The truth is the anticipation for a
breakthrough and the subsequent results might be anticlimactic.
The Armenian Government's perception is vastly different than the
Diaspora's; where one looks at the Centennial as a milestone to demand
recognition, whereas the Diaspora is seeking justice and reparations.
The fear is that this kind of discord may jeopardize the goals. The
risk is that those who perpetrated the Genocide might benefit from
this discord and that their preparations against our onslaught might
be far better organized to squash our attempts.
The last burst of Nationalism was when the People of Nagorno-Karabakh
took up arms to defend their land at great cost in lives and at great
sacrifice. One would anticipate that the national fervor that swept
across the Armenian Nation worldwide at the time would be perpetual.
However what was won at great cost is no more at the center of our
struggle. No serious attempts are made to repopulate liberated
territories. No serious diplomatic drive, to acquire recognition for
independance has been attempted to this date.
What are the possible causes for the regression in Nationalism?
First: To begin with the World Order has changed and Armenians as
citizens of the world - including the population in Armenia - are
affected by a universal decline in Ideology. Material pursuits
overwhelm Ideological ones and are affecting new generations.
Second: As time passes we have lost our memory passed on to us by our
Grandfathers and Grandmothers. Assimilation in its many forms is
rearing its ugly head and wreaking havoc in families of both Armenian
parents and mixed marriages.
Third: The position of the ruling government in Armenia that was set
by the First President of Armenia and which is still pervasive, based
on a short sided understanding of what Armenia's priorities should be;
downplaying and undermining any attempt to base Armenia's security on
a vigilant strengthening of our independence and a quest for justice
for the Armenian Genocide.
Fourth: The lack of Education of the new generation, the teaching of a
proper understanding of historical precedent. Even the current
president of Armenia lacks a proper perception of the significance and
implications of the term `Genocide' over that of `Metz Yeghern'. The
president also needs to be educated as to the true nature and
intentions of our neighbors on the West and East Side of Armenia.
Fifth: For a people to be able to pursue national objectives, it has
to be in a position of economic and social safety, just enough to
allow for the pursuit of nationalistic goals.
Sixth: Admittedly, Armenia has a strong army. However, a strong army
should be accompanied by a robust foreign policy; one that can put
Armenia on the offensive and overcome the propaganda war waged against
us and undermining our Republic.
What is Nationalism?
`Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong
identification of a group of individuals with a nation. There are two
major perspectives on the origins and basis of nationalism, one is
that primordialist perspective that describes nationalism as a
reflection of the ancient and perceived evolutionary tendency of
humans to organize into distinct grouping based on an affinity of
birth; the other is the modernist perspective that describes
nationalism as a recent phenomenon that requires the structural
conditions of modern society, in order to exist.'
`The adoption of national identity in terms of historical development,
has commonly been the result of a response by an influential group or
groups that is unsatisfied with traditional identities due to
inconsistency between their defined social order and the experience of
that social order by its members, resulting in a situation of anomie,
that nationalists seek to resolve. This anomie results in a society or
societies reinterpreting identity, retaining elements that are deemed
acceptable and removing elements deemed unacceptable, in order to
create a unified community. This development may be the result of
internal structural issues or the result of resentment by an existing
group or groups towards other communities, especially foreign powers
that are or are deemed to be controlling them.'
What is direly needed is a new spark by intellectuals and a new
leadership to revive the ideas of Nationhood, our National Cause, and
a strong sense of national identity uniting Armenians. What is needed
is the realization that without strong nationalistic feelings, we as a
nation will wither away. We deserve leaders who have the vision and
courage to overcome obstacles and put our national aspirations first,
and who will establish the necessary structures towards that end.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://asbarez.com/108314/the-decline-of-armenian-nationalism/
Friday, February 15th, 2013 | Posted by Contributor
The 2013 Presidential campaign
BY HRANT APOVIAN
I am a soldier [the nation] is my commander
I obey without question all its orders
with closed eyes I carry out my duty.
Ziya Gökalp
The upcoming elections in Armenia do not bode well for the future of
our nation. The absence of viable candidates, the lack of political
debate, devoid of any discussion of national survival issues is
tantamount to collective suicide.
What is taking us headlong to the edge of the precipice is the lack of
discussion regarding matters of national importance, national
security, national identity, foreign policy, survival of the
republic - our survival as a nation.
Our compatriots in Armenia are waging a war on poverty, trying very
hard to make a living and alternately leaving for better prospects
abroad. Our people in the Diaspora are waging a war for survival in
the midst of upheavals in the Middle East and leaving for better
prospects in the West, and eventually losing their identity by the
assimilation Tsunami.
The result is a rapid deterioration of Nationalism in our people: That
deep seated belief in our national identity, of being one nation, one
people, fighting against occupation, against tyranny, against
persecution that took a hundred fifty years to erupt and to evolve,
that Rafi inspired; The revolutionary fervor that energized
revolutionary parties, and vaccinated so many brave men and women is
on its way to extinction.
The reality among Armenia's ruling government circles is that the
perception and understanding of foreign policy as to what is in the
interest of the survival of the Armenian Nation, is not based on our
National Security Interests.
The ill fated protocol treaty signed by the Armenian Government is one
instance of a total lack of understanding of national security
concerns for Armenia. It will engulf Armenia in a forced capitulation
of our national rights and will severely damage the quest for justice
for the Armenian Genocide.
The ongoing presidential debates are devoid of a national discussion
of foreign policy issues. Depletion of Armenia's Population is thought
of as a propaganda tool used by the opposition, but not a serious
threat, and the uneven distribution of wealth in Armenia is looked
upon as a consequence of Capitalism in the New World Order.
We are getting ready to commemorate the hundredth Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. This is being looked at as a decisive milestone in
our quest for justice at last. The truth is the anticipation for a
breakthrough and the subsequent results might be anticlimactic.
The Armenian Government's perception is vastly different than the
Diaspora's; where one looks at the Centennial as a milestone to demand
recognition, whereas the Diaspora is seeking justice and reparations.
The fear is that this kind of discord may jeopardize the goals. The
risk is that those who perpetrated the Genocide might benefit from
this discord and that their preparations against our onslaught might
be far better organized to squash our attempts.
The last burst of Nationalism was when the People of Nagorno-Karabakh
took up arms to defend their land at great cost in lives and at great
sacrifice. One would anticipate that the national fervor that swept
across the Armenian Nation worldwide at the time would be perpetual.
However what was won at great cost is no more at the center of our
struggle. No serious attempts are made to repopulate liberated
territories. No serious diplomatic drive, to acquire recognition for
independance has been attempted to this date.
What are the possible causes for the regression in Nationalism?
First: To begin with the World Order has changed and Armenians as
citizens of the world - including the population in Armenia - are
affected by a universal decline in Ideology. Material pursuits
overwhelm Ideological ones and are affecting new generations.
Second: As time passes we have lost our memory passed on to us by our
Grandfathers and Grandmothers. Assimilation in its many forms is
rearing its ugly head and wreaking havoc in families of both Armenian
parents and mixed marriages.
Third: The position of the ruling government in Armenia that was set
by the First President of Armenia and which is still pervasive, based
on a short sided understanding of what Armenia's priorities should be;
downplaying and undermining any attempt to base Armenia's security on
a vigilant strengthening of our independence and a quest for justice
for the Armenian Genocide.
Fourth: The lack of Education of the new generation, the teaching of a
proper understanding of historical precedent. Even the current
president of Armenia lacks a proper perception of the significance and
implications of the term `Genocide' over that of `Metz Yeghern'. The
president also needs to be educated as to the true nature and
intentions of our neighbors on the West and East Side of Armenia.
Fifth: For a people to be able to pursue national objectives, it has
to be in a position of economic and social safety, just enough to
allow for the pursuit of nationalistic goals.
Sixth: Admittedly, Armenia has a strong army. However, a strong army
should be accompanied by a robust foreign policy; one that can put
Armenia on the offensive and overcome the propaganda war waged against
us and undermining our Republic.
What is Nationalism?
`Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong
identification of a group of individuals with a nation. There are two
major perspectives on the origins and basis of nationalism, one is
that primordialist perspective that describes nationalism as a
reflection of the ancient and perceived evolutionary tendency of
humans to organize into distinct grouping based on an affinity of
birth; the other is the modernist perspective that describes
nationalism as a recent phenomenon that requires the structural
conditions of modern society, in order to exist.'
`The adoption of national identity in terms of historical development,
has commonly been the result of a response by an influential group or
groups that is unsatisfied with traditional identities due to
inconsistency between their defined social order and the experience of
that social order by its members, resulting in a situation of anomie,
that nationalists seek to resolve. This anomie results in a society or
societies reinterpreting identity, retaining elements that are deemed
acceptable and removing elements deemed unacceptable, in order to
create a unified community. This development may be the result of
internal structural issues or the result of resentment by an existing
group or groups towards other communities, especially foreign powers
that are or are deemed to be controlling them.'
What is direly needed is a new spark by intellectuals and a new
leadership to revive the ideas of Nationhood, our National Cause, and
a strong sense of national identity uniting Armenians. What is needed
is the realization that without strong nationalistic feelings, we as a
nation will wither away. We deserve leaders who have the vision and
courage to overcome obstacles and put our national aspirations first,
and who will establish the necessary structures towards that end.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress