One of the Roman emperors of the 4th century, speaking before the bishops in Milan, openly declared: “What I want, let it be considered law.” With this, he tried to shut down all theological debates — what he desired was law, and that was the end of it. But debates continued then, and they continue even now. Laws based on the whims of emperors, kings, generals, or prime ministers have lasted only as long as the lives of those — excuse the foreign word —”самодур”s (stabborn despots).
In the 18th century, Europe’s progressive thinkers proposed building mechanisms that could restrain the “I am the state” mentality of rulers and princes. They outlined certain “rules of the game” — chiefly the separation of powers, and the separation of church and state. But despite centuries of enlightenment, in many countries, half-madmen (or those pretending to be madmen) continue to emerge — people who see no bounds or limitations and believe their personal desires should become the law of the land.
Yet since the 18th century, when the “people” were officially declared sovereign, a new trend emerged: rulers no longer attribute unlawful actions to themselves, but instead claim “the people” want them. Stalin didn’t say he personally wanted millions to die in the Gulag. No — every day, Pravda declared that “the Soviet people demand just punishment for traitors and spies.” During the Brezhnev era, factory workers on the evening news show Vremya would dutifully condemn Solzhenitsyn or Sakharov “on behalf of the Soviet people.”
We’ve seen similar tactics in Armenia’s recent history. When the Prime Minister dislikes a court ruling, he doesn’t directly object to the decision — instead, he says “the people” should intervene and block court buildings. “The people” should dismiss the head of the Constitutional Court. “The people” should choose a new Catholicos.
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But invoking “the people” in every sentence cannot mask illegality. If Pashinyan sees himself as the king or emperor of Armenia, let him say so outright. Let us at least call things by their name — and speak honestly of a new, pro-European imperialism.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
