Thursday, February 1, 2007

DR. SPURKIAN AND (S)ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA

First of all, I would like the readers to rest assured that I’m not running for any position. I wanted to make this ‘disclaimer’ since it seems that around the time of elections – be those in political parties, professional groups or in a country – whenever someone starts saying anything, people would always associate what is being said as a campaign statement and promise and hence stop listening. Of course in most Armenian settings the candidates would seldom claim that they’re running for a post, perhaps thinking that admitting to be a candidate would be demeaning, in which case my ‘disclaimer’ would not have its intended goal.

THE RACE IS ON!
In a statement from the president of the country (nominal or real president I’m not sure), the date of the next parliamentary elections is set to be on May 12. It seems that the announcement of the date has no consequence on anyone. Some ‘parties’ have already been ‘partying’ their projected win, while the sides which should be the most concerned with the elections – namely the citizens of Armenia – don’t seem to care much about who will be power.

I believe it was Napoleon Bonaparte who – responding to people criticizing him for setting up a monarchy less than two decades after the people of France ousted the previous monarchy – said ‘As long as the people have bread to eat and they are safe at their homes, they don’t care what form of government rules over their head.’ Since I’m not as smart or powerful as napoleon, I figured out I could borrow his statement and apply it in the case of Armenia by saying ‘As long as people have cell phones and cars, while others are barely able to get food on their tables, they don’t care who governs them becuase they are busy sending text messages to each other or struggling to make a living.’

The 2007 parliamentary elections seem to be important for political circles in Armenia since it is viewed as a litmus test of the presidential elections to take place in 2008. All the parties and individuals, who have been campaigning, seem to have their eyes set on the presidency either for themselves or for someone that they will eventually have to support. This is a perfect case to amplify the degree to which Armenians don’t like to work in phases and establish political presence gradually; rather they like to grab the whole thing from the top.

This opinion of mine was reinforced when, several months ago, I had two separate conversations with two political figures active in Armenia’s politics and both were adamant about making a change by becoming presidents. When I asked them whether it might be a better idea to work from bottom up and develop strong constituencies around Armenia by going and listening to the needs and concerns of the citizens, the response that I got was basically a manifestation of the Armenian male psyche that ‘change could only happen from above.’

ELECTIONS FOR WHOM AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE?
While in any normal country, elections are a tool for citizens to express their views by choosing the candidates which they think represents them the best, in Armenia that is not the case. Come to think of it, there are so many countries like Armenia where elections are used to validate whatever selection the politicians have already made, that ‘normal’ has changed its meaning.

Elections in Armenia give the illusion of a choice when in reality what citizens are doing is expressing the choice that people in control want them to show. And what makes this whole ‘game’ enjoyable is the fact that most often than not, the political party which seems to be the front runner usually appears less than a year before the elections and miraculously manages to become ‘popular’ almost overnight. The current front runner in Armenia’s parliamentary elections is a party which appeared about a year ago and as I was walking in the streets of Yerevan kept seeing its offices springing up – just like Starbucks cafés in the West – at different parts of town.

One thing that needs to be commended about the new front-running party is that its founder and leader is a businessman who was an Olympic wrestler. If I were able to vote, O would have given (or sold) my vote to his party because I’m quiet sure that nobody is better equipped to ‘tackle’ Armenia’s problems than a wrestler who has a lot of experience tackling (people or issues makes no difference).

Regardless of what happens in the elections or until then, the best thing that citizens of Armenia can do is to see which party has more to offer. And what is meant by ‘more’ is the amount of bribe rather than promises (unless they are promises of bribe), because at the end of the day the people are tired of being viewed as gullible fools when most of the candidates out there to govern them use all the muscles in their body except the ones in their skull to run the country and the society.

More about elections as things heat up!

21 comments:

  1. Don't you worry the problem is that even the "wrestler" is not going to win(because popularity among people, and number of votes is not a decisive factor for winning the elections. It is the actions undertaken after voting ...).
    The next president will be the minister or defense - and I guess he is considered the most "suitable" nominee for this post by the Diaspora and Russia.
    The other thing: may be it is not being poor or rich that makes people indifferent but the fact that once they stood on Opera square and fought, tried to make statements and voted then it ended up in disaster. i think Armenians simply lost faith in voting and all democratic procedures(at least in this country).

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  2. Let's call the wrestler by his name. Gagik Tsarukian's -- Dodi Gago's -- Prosperous Armenia is believed to have the backing of Kocharian so yes, it will do well in the elections.

    Too early to say whether it will do as well, worse or better than the Republican Party because I suppose that's still being decided behind closed doors and some unforseen changes might occur by election day, but anyway.

    Nevertheless, I doubt that will change the situation much. What will change the situation, and for the worse, is what Lina says. People have given up, and that became more apparent after the 2003 Presidential Election. Two more elections like that and it's the end.

    Well, maybe not the end, but it will take a long, long time before there's any real chance for getting back on the road towards democratization. Then again, other former SU countries have been in the same situation, but the level of apathy here is breathtaking.

    What is it about Armenians that allows this situation to emerge? Some say a lack of statehood for centuries and a slave mentality, but it is staggering if sad to see. Or, as one Diasporan Armenian said to me after the 2003 votes:

    "Armenia will have the authorities its population deserves."

    Well, interesting post, although I think there was plenty more you could have said about the "wrestler," Mr. Tsarukian. Like, for example, how most of his businesses post losses, or how his shaven headed thugs beat people and shoot off guns from time to time.

    Anyway, time will tell. The U.S. and Europe say they will not tolerate falsified elections this time round, although we know that there's not much they'll do in reality. I mean, if they do, they can't bring about changes in other areas such as geopolitically for the U.S. or moving closer to Europe in terms of legislation in the case of the CE and EU.

    Still, why should they do something when the population doesn't give a shit? I mean, as long as something changes a little better this time round, everyone can at least argue that something positive happened. Instead of buying votes during the elections, buy them beforhand using a loophole in the law -- why not?

    Maybe that's the most progress Armenians can hope for... unfortunately.

    Still, we might all be surprised, but shouldn't hold our breath. And btw: Lina, Serzh is courting the U.S. and seems to be doing quite nicely in that regard. Forget Russia and the Diaspora. Actually, forget the Diaspora. They're meaningless in the scheme of things.

    Given the way the Diaspora has overlooked, rationalized and actually been involved in covering up the poor conduct of elections here, perhaps that's at least one blessing in disguise. Everyone's to blame for the situation, perhaps.

    ---
    http://www.oneworld.am
    http://oneworld.blogsome.com

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  3. Haralez says,

    Nothing new about (trying) fixing elections.
    This happens in the best, so called democracies, all over the world....
    The only differance between poor and rich democracies is the BUYING POWER AND THE WAYS THAT DIFFER!

    As long as Armenia does not end up in civil war, like so many exemples that abound, I hope we will have to be patient and allow our 15 years old republic to mature. LOL

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  4. I had no illusions that Armenia was any better than any other country. Arguably the people had a real choice in 1991 and since then it has been a regression when it comes to electing political leadership. I wouldn’t’ have had as much of a problem with all this vote buying or wooing if the people who were actually doing it had SOME vision for Armenia. The truth is that these people are so short-sighted and engulfed with their own personal gains that they can’t and won’t think about the collective good.

    The argument that Armenia is in transition is sooooo old. Armenia will always be a “newer” democracy than nay other country and to argue that in time things will et better won’t pass by me. Actually the fact that Armenia is “new” to this should give people more impetus to get it right from the start. The foundations of democracy in Armenia are already crooked and time is of essence to fix it.

    At the end of the day things are just going to remain the way they are and people will become more apathetic towards politics and become more individualists looking at their own immediate gain (receiving money or favors for their vote) rather than the long term collective gain.

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  5. Although there are many reasons for it, and not least distance from Moscow and less time spent under Soviet control, the Baltic Republics show what can be achieved in a short period of time.

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  6. well the Baltics have always been an anomaly even under Soviet control. the reason for that is mostly becuase they had experience in independence 1920-1939- and in the minds of many people that was still alive when they became independent again in 1989. they knew the path to follow and followed it full steam ahead. In the case of other soviet republics they were (are) still figuring out if they should be a parliamentary democracy, presidential form of government or just plain follow Russia’s path (whatever that may be).

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  7. It takes short sighted and very big "EGOED" people to become politicians....
    The Baltic republics had, as you say, some years of experimenting independance before they fell under the Soviet rule.
    Armenians, unlike Balts, were enslaved for over 500 years as you well know.
    The slavery Armenians survived, without loosing national character and culture, was in itself miraculous!
    Surviving modern day "Vashxarus" is another phase of the ongoing hardships!
    My point being "AS LONG AS THERE IS NO FRATRICIDAL WARS TO UNDERMINE PRESENT DAY SEMBLANCE OF STABILITY" Armenians will find the best way to COME TO ACCOMODATION for living and progressing towards co-existance with immediate neighbours, as well as neighbours beyond Armenia's borders!

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  8. Can people actually read?

    Although there are many reasons for it, and not least distance from Moscow and less time spent under Soviet control...

    Too many "self-styled intellectuals," I suppose.

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  9. Well at least in the mind of this "self-styled intellectual", “less time spent under Soviet control” and “previous experience in independence” are not necessarily mutually inclusive. For instance between 18 and 19 centuries Poland (or parts of it) was not always under Russian control but it wasn't independent either. It was dominated by Prussia and Hapsburg Empire.

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  10. "The slavery Armenians survived, without loosing national character and culture, was in itself miraculous!"

    According to who? No one can survive slavery for so long without suffering the psychological consequences. Where I grew up in the Middle East (not Turkey), young Armenians, even members of a political party were far more excited about things Turkish (including expressing themselves in the Turkish language) than Armenian

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  11. Harry,
    Survival was the KEY WORD!
    No one said Armenians did not suffer psychological effects of long term slavery....
    However, even if they deviated in some degrees of alienation in their preferances of culture, THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE DID PERSIST AND TODAY ARMENIA IS.....UNLIKE SOME OTHER EXTINCT CONTEMPORARY NATIONS THAT ARE NO MORE!

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  12. "Survival was the KEY WORD!"

    On survival,I read the following post on an Armenian discussion board:
    "Armenians dreamt of survival and got a narrow strip of rocky upland sandwiched between Turkey and Azerbaijan; Turks dreamt of a pan Turkish empire and got 100% of Anatolia,4 seas, Iskenderun, northern Cyprus"

    Which national group that found itself in the Ottoman empire does not exist today anymore? (did not "survive"?

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  13. I think the issue here is also to what extent have people learned/passed on to those who “enslaved them” and how much did they get from them.

    let’s not underestimate the value of cultural exchange and symbiosis that Armenians had with the Turks, Persians, Arabs and the rest of the lot. Furthermore, in Armenian historiography, 500 years (or sometimes 6 centuries) is a good round number to depict how long have Armenians been enslaved.

    The truth of the matter is that the Ottoman Empire was a modern and revolutionary empire which established the millet system and gave autonomy to the various ethnic and religious groups and brought in much needed stability to Anatolia/western Armenia. Up until early 19th century, Armenians were not enslaved rather they were doing rather well (even in the provinces).

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  14. What mainstream Armenian and Turkish commentators forget is that most Armenians were proud of the Ottoman empire and were honored to serve in the Ottoman administration (if such jobs were offered to them)

    Even after atrocities were committed in the 1890s there was a huge number of Armenian informers (including many in the clergy) who would try to outdo one another to please the Ottoman authorities by reporting on the small bands of Armenian guerillas. Remember that to the majority of Armenians (including some third generation Armenians I grew up with, in the diaspora), the Turks were "winners". Armenians were, correspondingly, thought of as "losers", but this view of themselves was implied rather than expressed

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  15. Harry,
    I fail to see what point you are trying to proove...
    It is obvious that Armenians lost on all counts, life, land, etc.etc.
    TODAY THERE IS ARMENIA... AND ARMENIANS ALL OVER THE GLOBE ARE TRYING TO HAVE RESTITUTION FROM TURKEY!
    Are you implying that we would have done better to shut up and stand in a corner forever?
    Are you a modern day excuser of the past traitorous behaviour of some Armenians? Those that prefered self gain under all cicumenstances without any regard for their actions, therefore we should not dare to aspire for a betterment of our nation?
    Infortunately we still have a lot of them... Which nation doesn't have?
    A lot of Armenians experienced the same life as you say you did, this does not mean we should give up on HOPE OF REFORMS!
    WE SURVIVED AND WILL CARRY ON SURVIVING REGARDLESS OF DOOM SAYERS LIKE YOU!

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  16. Do you spend your time comparing yourself to beggars, prison inmates and other outcasts to feel good about yourself?

    Then why do you compare Armenia with nations that might have disappeared two thousand years ago instead of making comparisons with Armenia's neighbors (like the Turks for instance)? The Turks incidentally are way ahead of Armenia (allowing for the population factor) in trade, manufacturing and tourism in spite of constant claims that Armenians have a special talent as merchants and traders.

    Why is it a source of comfort to you and many other Armenians like you to have achieved "survivor" status (as if giving millions of victims is something to feel good about)?

    Do you realize that bragging about survival is a feature of losers and those with the mentality of a slave? The slave mentality arising from years of Ottoman rule that also resulted in a large army of informers and collaborators?

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  17. Harry,
    I still do not understand what your beef is all about...
    You keep on harking that Armenians like myself are survivors or beggars (sic)!
    Of course we are survivors, not beggars, aren't you? If you are not, what are you doing here on this blog, griping about what?
    Contrary to your statement, I AM NOT GLORIFYING MY VICTIMIZATION!
    I am not interested in a game of who is better, Turkey or Armenia or their respective populations.... ALL I AM AFTER IS RESTITUTION BY TURKEY FOR THEIR ILL GAINED CRIMINAL PROCEEDS TAKEN FROM ARMENIANS.
    I WILL FIGHT FOR THIS RIGHTS TO THE END OF TIME.
    If you choose not to do so as an Armenian, you are welcome to become whatever you decide... PLEASE DO NOT BELITTLE THOSE OF US THAT WILL CARRY ON OUR DEMANDS FOR JUSTICE.
    Make your point clear as to what you propose as an alternative...if not, you can always beat water....

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  18. Restitution from Turkey is not a priority for the 50% of Armenians in Armenia living below the poverty line (some ending up in Turkey to look for work)

    If diaspora Armenians are hopeless at populating Karabakh and Lachin, then what chance do they have of doing anything useful with territory that might be recovered from Turkey? Unless "restitution from Turkey" is a useful slogan to cover up the incompetence over Karabakh (and poverty in Armenia)?

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  19. Harry,
    Once again, all you are doing is harping about failings!
    If our claims of past injustices committed by Turkey against Armenians are as hopless as you claim them to be...PLEASE TELL ME WHY IS ALL OF TURKEY WORRIED LIKE HELL, TAKING MEASURES, INCLUDING ECONOMICAL BLACKMAIL AGAINST USA!TRYING TO STOP CONGRESS PASSING A RESOLUTION THAT RECOGNIZES THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915?
    I guess contrary to your views, there seem to be something drastic that scares Turkey, if this recognition was to pass....
    It sure is not the Armenian army that scares them, then what is their problem?
    génatzet.

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  20. "Harry,
    Once again, all you are doing is harping about failings!"

    So we should, instead, celebrate the fact that the few Armenians that had settled in the Lachin corridor are now leaving? The right thing to do, according to you, is to daydream about gaining territory from Turkey, instead of finding out what's gone wrong in Karabakh and fixing it.
    I'm very proud of you ;)

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  21. Harry,
    I am not whitewashing the mistakes of the current shortcomings....
    Why can't we CONCURRENTLY PURSUE our rights for justice in all the spheres that need correcting...
    Why should Armenians according to your view "GIVE UP ON ANY HOPE FOR RESTITUTION, BE IT LANDS OR OTHER CHOICES... EXPL; ECONOMICAL COMPENSATION, LIKE GERMANY DID TOWARDS ISREAL FOR THE JEWISH GENOCIDE!!!!
    Your likes are the ones that have not gotten rid of their slavish and defeatist attitudes...
    Tze....

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