If we try to briefly describe the simplest form of political struggle in any country (sometimes called “populism”), the main tool is the following scheme: there is an “ordinary people” and there is an “elite,” and this political force naturally embodies the interests of the former, so to speak, “it came out of its bosom.”
Moreover, the “ordinary people,” according to this scheme, are a static ensemble whose members have constant common values and the only correct answer to all questions. When people who express the “will of the common people” come to power, they exercise their powers directly – the representative bodies, parties, public institutions, although they exist, but play a secondary role. The main mission of the “ordinary people” is to protect that “people” from the “elite,” as well as from rival political groups, which are the “servants of the elite.”
“Ordinary people” are thus idealized (for example, “true Armenian”, “patriot”, “proud citizen”, etc.), and the elite is demonized. Depending on the political context, this role can be played by “oligarchs”, “corrupt”, “traitors”, “pro-Turks”, “fifth column”, “Putin”, “Soros”, “Masons”, “Jews” and so on. By the way, in the case of Armenia, the most touching, of course, is the “fifth column.”. Authorities opposed the protest with all available police forces, special services, and the army. Meanwhile, it is obvious that the Kremlin supports Pashinyan in everything and will continue to do so until the “status quo” desired by Russia is registered in the Artsakh issue.
But the most interesting thing is that now two types of “ordinary people” have been formed in Armenia. “Ordinary people-1” are “proud citizens” who are protected by those who express their interests (the authorities) from the “corrupt elite” and its “servants.” “Ordinary people – 2” are “Armenian patriots”, whose interests must be protected from the “pro-Turkish elite” – the authorities.
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I have no doubt that these two “peoples” are “ordinary,” they both fight against the “elite” with the same expressions, the same methods, the same hostility. But in reality, of course, the whole scheme was invented by the politicians of the two camps. There is no united and static “ordinary people,” there are different social groups that pursue different interests. There are, of course, national interests that unite everyone, but the two described poles can not formulate them.
Aram Abrahamyan
