Today, few people’s “spirit suffices” to declare that they are liberals
Nowadays, saying in Armenia that you are professing liberal ideas is approximately the same as a man confesses that he is a religious or sexual minority. The second confession finds a broader response purely because everyone knows what it is.
As to what is liberal, many people do not know. But when “literate” people appear who explain that the Liberals are the ones who “destroyed the Soviets, closed the factories and sold at broken piece, looted the country and make this poor people wanderer”, then the broad masses understand who the liberals are and shape an adequate attitude towards them. It is not always the case. Nevertheless, in Russia and in Armenia, until 1998-1999, all “wise conclusions” about the “looting-privatization” was made by the opposition by “educating” the wide mass of populace with this spirit. The government was officially in favor of liberalism. It is another question how he applies these ideas in practice.
Then the “transition period” began. An interesting episode from the history of Russia: in 1999, the “Union of Right Forces” was established in this country with its prominent figures like Chubais, Gaidar, Nemtsov and Khakamada.
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Prior to the parliamentary elections, the representative of this Liberal Alliance, Kiriyenko, met with the then Prime Minister Putin who noted that there is a lot to use in the program provisions of the alliance. As a result, the “rights” won 852% votes in the 1999 Duma elections and had a parliamentary faction, and in 2000, they supported Putin’s candidacy in the presidential elections. But gradually, the official propaganda began declining towards in favor of the thesis that the liberals “have looted the country.” As to why this change has happened, there are many explanations. Perhaps, one of the reasons is to conceal the own desire to plunder.
The transition in Armenia was more abrupt. After the change of power in 1998, the official propaganda took the “communist-sadoyan” thesis of the previous period about “looting the country”. The new government began to establish itself by finding fault with the previous ones. A part of the opposition was trying to advance its liberal ideas. In 2000, the “Alliance of Right Forces” was established which included PANM, Bagratyan’s “Freedom”, David Shahnazaryan’s “21st Century” and a number of other organizations. The official “haylur” (ArmNews) propaganda was actively stoning the liberals. As to why the activities of this alliance failed to develop, there are also numerous reasons, including, of course, the conflicting ambitions of their leaders. But one of the main reasons is that the political figures’ “spirit did not suffice” to say that they are liberals, the social populism is much more convenient tool.
Today, at the Parliament, when ANC members “unrest” the RPA members, the latter again take out the same theses from the drawer about destroying of the economy and the closure of factories, these theses must have countered the criticism of the opposition members, with “and when you…” iron logic. The opposition members in their turn mostly suffer from “sadoyanism”, and usually do not move forward from the “plundering-looting” accusations of the 90’s style. Because it is hard to tell the protesting people that your well-being depends on your efforts, your job, it is much easier to join in singing to the “whimpering tone.”
In short, now, you will not collect votes with liberal ideas. But since “getting votes” is not included in my goals, I will tell you my opinion: a Man, his rights and freedoms must underlie in a normal state.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
