I will briefly remind you what the “Overton window” means. Suppose someone appears in some country and says, “Cannibalism is a good thing.” Naturally, it causes a shock in society: what is he saying? How can a person say such a thing in the 21st century? Then the discussion begins: who said it, and why did it say it? Then some people say that sometimes saying something like this is a rational solution. After a while, a discussion begins about whether a person should be grilled or fried before eating. And in a few months, society is divided into supporters and opponents of cannibalism.
And journalists, by the way, are starting to be accused: why don’t you maintain neutrality and publicly speak out against cannibalism? That is the essence of the “Overton Window,” and in the age of social networks, bringing any extraordinary idea to the arena and organizing a discussion about it is one-to-one.
A few months ago, I would hardly have imagined that any Armenian would say that if the Azerbaijani flag flies in the central square of Stepanakert, Armenians will have a peaceful and safe life in Artsakh. Or that closing the Lachin Corridor is a natural, logical step by the Azerbaijanis. But now I understand (admittedly, belatedly) that the entire previous process, starting from 2018, was preparing those claims and the corresponding public sentiments. The stories about “robbers,” “formers,” and then Russians are just “sauces” to implement the preliminary plan.
Public opinion was preparing for today when it was openly said that the Azerbaijanis should rule in Artsakh, which would benefit the Armenians living there. Those who say such things know very well what will happen. It’s just that what they say is not met with public resistance. When you tell the average Armenian that Armenians will be massacred or deported during the rule of the Azerbaijanis, he will answer, without any logic, “what about the formers? What about the Russians?”
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The next step will be to accustom public opinion to the idea that Azerbaijanis should “return” to the Republic of Armenia and the “enclaves” should be handed over to the neighboring country. The “taming” process has already begun, and the “Overton window” has already opened. If that “return” and “handover” program is implemented, the Republic of Armenia will no longer exist.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
