Armenia is now in an unprecedentedly deep national crisis – Vahe Hovhannisyan

One of the thinkers of modern Russia, economist Alexander Auzan, has formulated a kind of “formula of optimism” for this difficult phase in his country: “Tomorrow will be worse than the day after tomorrow.”

Several layers are embedded in this idea. Of course, a crisis is underway, but if the planning horizon is extended, the perspective begins to shift. In any crisis, nations and states eventually find ways to adapt and develop. And, as Auzan emphasizes, the future is determined by the actions and choices of societies themselves.

Every nation and state has its own model and depth of crisis. There is no universal definition of what a crisis is or how it unfolds. In my view, Armenia is currently facing an unprecedentedly deep national crisis. I do not know whether Auzan’s formula will prove applicable in our case, nor what will happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. But I know one thing with certainty: any path toward development and restoration will begin only from the moment we, as a society and through its active segments, formulate a demand for an honest conversation about ourselves and our prospects.

Vahe Hovhannisyan, member of the Alternative Projects group