Georgi Derluguian on the Making of Modern Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan

Why did Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan—once similar Soviet republics—take such different political and social paths? This conversation examines Armenia’s dismantling of its oligarchic order, Georgia’s cycles of charismatic leaders, and Azerbaijan’s oil-driven family run dictatorship. church-state tensions, migration patterns, and shifting geopolitical alignments. In this context, historical sociologist Georgi Derluguian discusses church-state tensions, migration patterns, and shifting geopolitical alignments in the region with CivilNet’ Eric Hacopian.

00:00 – 02:30 | Introduction to Armenian Church and Society
Overview of church popularity and public perception.
Is the current church-state conflict politically driven or historically rooted?

02:30 – 10:00 | Armenian Language, Identity, and Diaspora
Historical importance of Armenian language and dialects.
Role of the diaspora and survival of culture post-genocide.

10:00 – 17:30 | Church Influence and Social Transformation
Church’s historic role in literacy, manuscripts, and fostering intelligentsia.
Comparison with Irish and European nationalism.

17:30 – 25:00 | Modern Challenges for the Armenian Church
Church’s relevance in the context of the state.
Soviet-era influence and KGB involvement in church hierarchy.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s upbringing and attitudes toward corruption.

25:00 – 32:00 | Church-State Conflict as a Sign of Modernity
Comparison with late 19th-century European church-state conflicts.
Democratization and voter influence in Armenia post-2018.

32:00 – 40:00 | Lessons from Europe and Sweden
Structural opposition of churches to democratization and political shifts.
Historical examples: King Henry VII and Church of Sweden.

40:00 – 48:00 | Regional Geopolitics: Russia
Recent Russia-Ukraine war dynamics and potential societal impacts.
Russian veterans and future political influence.
Role of bureaucracy and technocrats in post-war Russia.

48:00 – 55:00 | Regional Geopolitics: Turkey
Erdogan’s rise through migration and village-to-city population shifts.
Impact on Turkish society and potential long-term cultural changes.
Case study: Story of Gian Tal and community organization in Istanbul.

55:00 – 63:00 | Regional Geopolitics: Iran
Effects of recent attacks and consolidation of the regime.
Islamism, nationalism, and prospects for future political change.
Revolutionary Guard, supreme leader’s role, and governance dynamics.

63:00 – 65:00 | Closing Remarks
Reflections on populism, historical patterns, and global political waves.
Interview conclusion with Georgi Derluguian.

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