Civic Processes in Armenia: Stances, Boundaries and the Change Potential

Abstract

The article addresses the relationships among various actors who are (un)involved in civic processes and the implications of these relationships for socio-cultural change in Armenian society. The article discusses protests in their relation to boundaries, namely, how protests in Armenia affect these boundaries and how the phenomena of boundary work affect protest manifestation and evolution. The analysis questions some assumptions regarding the dynamic and emancipatory nature of movements. 'Cultural layering' is proposed as a concept to describe the various ways that socio-cultural factors affect protests. The analysis relies on data from interviews, participant observations and online discussions, and it centers on #ElectricYerevan. Prior and subsequent protests and secondary data on the country's various social indicators are used to contextualize the findings.