Nikol's Interests Are Primary Over Universal Interests, Political Scientist

Political scientist Stepan Danielyan has addressed the question on his Facebook page regarding whether the interests of the state and the interests of the government are identical, and which one is primary.

“The interests of the state and Nikol’s interests: Nikol is not to blame. Are the interests of the state and the interests of the government identical, and if not, which one is primary? The question seems rhetorical, as decisions are always made by the government in power at any given time, and naturally, one’s own shirt is closer to the body. When the power is personalized and decisions are made by one person, the query can become even more serious—whose interests are primary in our case: Nikol’s or the state’s?

If we discuss specific cases, it creates the impression that Nikol’s interests are primary over the universal interests. For instance, from whose interests does the artificial opposition between Armenia and Artsakh arise? It definitely does not stem from the state’s interests. Or from whose interests does it arise to discredit rather than reform the judicial system? It certainly does not stem from the state’s interests. Additionally, from whose interests does it arise to fill the parliament with non-political and non-ideological masses? It surely does not stem from the state’s interests.

In this case, whose interests do these decisions stem from? It is evident that they derive from the interests of the decision-maker, and the validity of all this can be embedded in various ways into individuals who are unable or unwilling to think beyond stereotypes. Experience shows that this can be possible in a short time frame.

On the other hand, Nikol cannot be blamed, as the interests of the state are not formulated for the public, and the people are not to blame for that. The people are a mass; such a formulation is the work of the elite. As for Nikol, he has what he coveted—power, while what we desire is still unclear. Imagine a bus full of people who do not know where they wish to go, while the driver knows. What should the driver do? Correctly, he should drive the vehicle to where he wants to go. In this sense, Nikol is not to blame.