If 30, 20, or even 10 years ago the Armenian government had, on the one hand, surrendered Artsakh and, on the other hand, carried out large-scale political repression against clergymen, businessmen, and opposition MPs, Armenian society—if not outright rising up—would have at least rebelled. Today (let’s not deceive ourselves), it is not rebelling. One segment, of course, is outraged by what’s happening. Another is genuinely inspired by Pashinyan’s actions. But the majority is deeply indifferent.
There are many reasons for this, of course. But in my view, the key reason is this: the current government truly reflects the moral and intellectual level of the majority of our citizens. The issue is not one of “democracy” or “elections,” at least not as these terms are understood by Western institutions. That part is quite clear. These institutions hold the franchise on what is considered “democracy”—they grant this license to whoever they choose, and deny it to whoever they don’t. Pashinyan could organize ten “March 1,” and they would still praise his “efforts to build democracy.”
But this is about something deeper and less tangible. “The people deserve the government they get” not because the government is “elected,” but because the people see themselves reflected in it: liars, slanderers, intolerant, and ignorant. (I understand that no politician—pro-government or opposition—would dare say this. On the contrary, they all rush to “bow before the wisdom of the people.”)
The “people” that members of the Civil Contract Party love to invoke are, in fact, mass consumers—and they live with a consumerist mindset. This is especially evident when it comes to the Church. Sitting on a couch and demanding, “Bring me virtuous clergymen; these ones are buried in sin,” is a sign of not understanding what the Church actually is. The Church is us. And its servants are buried in sin to the same extent we are. If I do not commit atrocities, if I clean up my own “ecosystem,” and hundreds or thousands of others do the same, the quality of both secular and spiritual power will gradually change.
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But since we, as a community, are heading in precisely the opposite direction, our government is marching along with us—step by step.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
