It is known that a person, regardless of when and where they were born, what social position they hold, and what mental abilities they have, has been guided by concepts for 10,000 years. According to modern authors, the famous pyramid of Abraham Maslow operates, but in an “inverted” version. The basic ones are the spiritual needs on which society and security are built. If it were not so, in particular, no soldier would have fought in any war.
Nations also live by concepts. For example, the Russian concept is that their country is special and it has its own path, but it is surrounded by enemies whose minds are to deviate from that path (mainly by introducing foreign values), and the Russians’ goal and mission is to fight against those pressures and to preserve the right to go on their own path. Naturally, this is not an invention of Putin and his propagandists. This mentality was formed about 200 years ago in the form of the so-called “Slavic nationalists.” It just becomes an official concept from time to time, as it is today. This concept is manifested in the overestimation of one’s own strength and the resulting military adventures.
The Armenian concept can be formulated as follows: we are also mostly surrounded by enemies, but, unlike the Russians, we think we are small and weak and can not defend ourselves. We also often complain about why this or that power does not protect us. A new phenomenon is added to that story: “We have been robbed and oppressed for 30 years, and now there is no more important issue than bringing those thieves and oppressors to justice.”
It does not matter which of these statements is true and which is false. I strongly believe that the terms “right” and “wrong” are not applicable to the concepts. There are working, effective concepts and vice versa. The “place” where we Armenians see ourselves in the world and the ways we have chosen to interact with the world do not provide the solution to our security and social problems.
But the basis, I repeat, is in the spiritual sphere. And the current manifestation of all this is public apathy and an incompetent government.
Aram Abrahamyan
