By K.m.Greg Sarkissian
I write as an Armenian in the diaspora, deeply connected to our homeland, yet far enough to see patterns sometimes harder to recognize on the ground. I do not face the immediate security challenges that Armenians in Armenia endure, and I do not claim to know better than those who live there. But I am alarmed.
The 21st century is proving once again that power often decides outcomes. Across the world, nationalism and “might is right” are on display. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, and crises in Venezuela show that ordinary people suffer when power is wielded without restraint, and the world sometimes fails to intervene. Technological advances—AI, robotics, precision weaponry—amplify the consequences of force.
Armenia’s challenges exist within this same global context. The nine-month blockade of Artsakh and the displacement of its population occurred with minimal or no intervention. The survival of those communities depended on an independent Armenia, a nation capable of protecting its people and asserting its sovereignty. This is a stark reminder: internal division weakens a nation and leaves it vulnerable in a world where might can overshadow right.
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One urgent internal challenge is the tension between the state and the church. Both are pillars of Armenian life—shaping culture, identity, and social cohesion. Yet rivalry between them does not strengthen the nation; it fragments it. The state must lead on foreign policy and security, and the church should support and align with that leadership rather than oppose it. When these roles are respected, Armenia speaks with a unified voice, both at home and abroad.
The upcoming elections in June offer an opportunity. A fair, transparent, and credible process, supported by all institutions, can reinforce trust and demonstrate national responsibility. The time to act is now. Armenia cannot wait. The choices we make today will determine whether we are resilient in a region shaped by power, technology, and ambition.
To safeguard our nation, I propose four urgent steps:
1. Structured Dialogue: State, church, civil society, and leaders of other power centers should meet regularly to discuss national priorities—culture, education, and security—beyond partisan politics.
2. Respect Roles, Encourage Cooperation: The church provides moral and cultural guidance; the state ensures governance, foreign policy, and security. Collaboration within proper roles strengthens resilience and unity.
3. Diaspora Engagement: Armenians abroad are a vital part of national life. Investments in Cultural, educational, humanitarian and economic initiatives can unite the diaspora, and prevent fragmentation. The field work offices of the Zoryan Institute, both in the diaspora and in Armenia, stand ready to support and contribute to these urgent efforts as part of its field work of Diaspora studies .
4. Learn from History and Regional Realities: Peoples whose divisions weakened them—like the Kurds or the Assyrians—offer sobering lessons. Armenia’s survival depends on applying those lessons wisely before challenges overwhelm us.
The responsibility for Armenia’s future rests with all of us: government, opposition, church, civil society, and diaspora alike. Our unity, calm reasoning, and collective action—including holding the cleanest possible elections in June—can ensure that Armenia thrives in an increasingly complex and dangerous world.
I write not from fear, but from hope. Armenia has faced existential challenges before and prevailed. Today, the stakes are urgent, the risks real, and our collective action decisive. Our legacy—and the future of our nation—depends on acting together, wisely, and urgently.
K.M. Greg Sarkissian,
President Zoryan Institute