Principles of “liberal collectivism”
The European Social Survey, which is conducted since 2002 by several rounds in 30 countries (including Russia, by the country’s prestigious Institute for Comparative Social Survey), has recorded quite interesting findings. During the surveys, ten value indexes are selected, which later integrate into two major contrasts, “Preservation – Being open to changes” and “Self-determination – Care for people and nature.”
Russians, unlike the North European and Scandinavian nations, are more inclined to Preservation and Self-determination. And, in that sense, the former Soviet and Mediterranean countries’ nations are closer to them. This is contrary to the myth that allegedly the spirit of collectivism is typical to the Soviet Union or the former Soviet Union people. The pure empirical reality shows that just the opposite, everyone is at his own, when his “affairs are managed”, he absolutely does not care about the rest.
Such studies are not conducted in Armenia, however, it is clear that we would be close to Russians by value system. Nevertheless, both we, and probably Russians, purely theoretically do not want people “eat up one another” in our countries or cause damages to the nature. On the contrary, we want our country to be more advanced, to have new jobs, technologies, new products and services. But all of these is impossible without being open to changes.
Read also
There are politicians and commentators in Armenia who by saying “open to change” they mean only a toleration to homosexuals, transvestites, transsexuals and other minorities. I do not know to what extent this position is sincere (I suppose that the “ideologists” are intentionally distorting the issue), however, we must probably admit that it’s a very small segment of life, which plays no decisive role in Europe, nor in any other place in the world.
By saying “changes”, I understand political, economic, and cultural changes, and under the care about each other, I understand socially responsible behavior, when you, for example, do not dream of your more successful fellow citizen go bankrupt and be equal to you, but on the contrary, you strive to be equal to him. In the countries like ours, the kind of thinking comes from the delusion that the resources are limited, and if you do not get them, they will go to others. Whereas, the European (Christian) tradition speaks about the fact that the resources are inexhaustible, moreover, you are the creator of these resources, let’s recall at least the parable of “The feeding of the five thousand”. Here’s where the commitment of Western Europeans to care about each other and the nature come from. In other words, pushing your own interests forward by taking the interests of the rest into account, “liberal collectivism.”
The same ideologists often repeat, “Armenia is not Europe.” It probably does not meet the aspirations by the majority of Armenians. If this part constitutes even the minority, then it is the more advanced, educated, and successful minority. They are the creators of the very material and spiritual resources, and entering into a “cultural war” with them is not reasonable.
Although, it is also clear the “anti-European” orientation by the main vector of the society. 25 years ago, it seemed that by introducing free market relations, it is possible to live like living in France or Germany. But it was an illusion. In addition to free market relations, we should establish a respective state procedure, which, in its turn, I repeat, requires political, economic and spiritual changes. People, believing that such a procedure should be established independent of their will, are tired of constantly being in the position of an “outsider”, and assume that we will never reach Europe, and should not seek it. Orientation, changing the standards, and reducing create much more spiritually relaxed condition.
But, on the other hand, a person must have something to take pride in. Earlier, in the Soviet period, we were proud of our nationality, our origin, our family (“You are from a good origin, Arsen Varunts, your ancestors have built churches”). Now, the citizens’ pride should be added to all that. “But, how can I take pride? It there anything in our country to be proud of?” usually this is the reaction. I can only answer the following, “And what have you done to be proud of your states?”
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
