Armenia at the Crossroads: Democracy and Nationhood in the Post-Soviet Era : Essays, Interviews, and Speeches by the Leaders of the National Democra

The popular movement of Armenia began three years ago with relatively modest demonstrations against the dangerous levels of environmental pollution in the Soviet republic. Hundreds of thousands soon took to the streets in support of the right of self-determination of Armenians in the Azerbaijani administered region of Mountainous Karabagh. Within a short period of time the ""Karabagh Movement"" evolved into a mass supported and peaceful drive toward democracy and national sovereignty. Leaders of the movement, known as the Karabagh Committee, articulated a vision for an Armenia that relies on democratic processes and realistic strategies to determine its national interests and relations with its neighbors. Many questions must still be answered. Why did the movement evolve quickly from a single issue to a full-fledged democratic and independence movement? How do the leaders propose to develop political and economic sovereignty in a small landlocked country? How do they answer their critics who argue that Armenians cannot defend themselves against their neighbors? What is Armenia's role in current developments in the USSR? How has the Armenian diaspora related to the movement? This volume introduces answers through essays, interviews, and speeches by members and associates of the original Karabagh Committee. The ideas and collective vision articulated here first led their authors to Soviet prisons. They now lead the Republic of Armenia: Levon Ter Petrosian is the President, Vazgen Manukian, Prime Minister, Hambartsum Galstyan, Mayor of Yerevan, Ktrich Sardarian, Vice Prime Minister, etc.The volume is edited by historian, author and lecturer Gerard Libaridian, until recently, director of the Zoryan Institute for Contemporary Armenian Research and Documentation. Libaridian has annotated the texts to provide historical, political and sociological references. The introduction and postscript help place the texts within the larger Armenian and diasporan experience.