In 1972, the central theme of the parliamentary elections in the Federal Republic of Germany was the so-called “New Eastern policy.” The social democrats believed that it was necessary to review the relations with the German Democratic Republic and to accept the existence of that state, while the “rights” were against this softening of the policy. (Subsequent events, incidentally, proved the Social Democrats, under Willy Brandt, correct.)
According to polls, society was divided into two equal parts in the pre-election situation. Those who supported the “New Western policy” spoke loudly and confidently. Those against it feared being isolated and remained silent and self-absorbed. The former felt stronger than were, and the latter weaker. German sociologist Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann describes the situation: “Those observations motivated people in their environment and in the presence of others, in one case, to announce their views out loud, in the other case, to be silent. The former were gaining strength, and the latter were disappearing from the arena, becoming mute. That process can be called the “spiral of silence.”
In the case of one, the spiral goes “up” – it opens, multiplies, expands, in the second – down, and disappears, equals almost zero.
People fear isolation. When 2016, the so-called “Sasna Tsrer” attacked a police regiment and killed a person, the “spiral of silence” unfolded in full force. Any, even “semi-condemning” words addressed to the murderers were met with hysterical attacks from the aggressive, shouting part of the society: “So you serve Serzh.” Very few people could stand it, and those who did not like what “Tsrer” did, remained silent. Today, the same “screamers” do not want to say a word of support to Varuzhan Avetisyan’s son, who allegedly insulted the Prime Minister. Conformism then called for “making noise,” Now, it calls for silence.
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The same is the case with Artsakh. People who believe Artsakh should not be a part of Azerbaijan are mostly silent because they fear being isolated. They are “threatened” by the fact that the same aggressive mass will declare them “slaves of Russia” or ” Serge-Rob-fan”. Being in isolation is certainly not a comfortable state.
But now, the struggle for freedom should be expressed by not being afraid of isolation. The most challenging thing now is to fight to be free from the tyranny of the majority.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
