«What is happening in the US is a social earthquake with aftershocks and devastation» - Suren Sargsyan

International relations expert Suren Sargsyan wrote on his Facebook page: “In recent months, what is happening in the US is not just public discontent or unrest, but deep processes - shocks that can reshape the face of American society, its value system, and even rewrite and reevaluate American history, bringing about a reassessment of historical events and figures (for instance, the discourse surrounding Columbus and Washington). This is not merely a change in public sentiments and perceptions; this is a social earthquake with both vertical and horizontal shocks, aftershocks, and devastation that will significantly alter the America we know.

The causes of these shocks are not new, but the driving forces, circumstances, and triggering technologies, including external influences, are. Yes, behind all this are also forces, funders, and supporters from various backgrounds. Opposing the opinions of active and aggressive groups (even if they are a minority) has become dangerous, and the global intolerance that envelops this society is divisive. A group of politicians, unwilling to counter the opinions of the loud elite, has become fervent defenders of these groups, while another group insists that there is a silent majority in America that is opposite to the loud minority.

Possible Causes

The first reason is the social crisis that has peaked against the backdrop of a political campaign of hatred and intolerance, executed by political currents (a significant indicator of fear and a feeling of helplessness is the record surge in arms sales). The climate of hatred became more acute after Trump’s election. Trump will go down in history as the most targeted, most criticized, and for a segment of the public, the most unacceptable president. Americans either hate Trump or idolize him. A neutral stance is quite rare.

Due to the pandemic, the poor and middle-class, which constitutes the majority of the US population, faced an economic and moral-psychological crisis. Let’s not forget that 99% of America’s wealth is concentrated in the hands of 1% of the population. After months of staying home and not working, the public has become more sensitive and depressed, and a small spark ignited a great fire.

Thus, the death of African American Floyd was not a cause but a trigger, prompting accumulated energy to explode (let’s not forget that US police kill 1,200-1,500 citizens each year, and African Americans are not the majority on this list). That explosion occurred, fueling various political and social movements (for example, the Defund the Police movement funded by George Soros). Racial and overall discrimination has been one of the biggest issues in the US for centuries.

Now, it is difficult for part of society to express personal opinions due to the risk of being 'stoned'. According to some claims, the silent majority does not agree with the will of the loud minority or does not wish to publicly express dissent to avoid the prospect of being subjected to scorn. But this majority will have its say during the elections.

This is just the visible tip of the iceberg, and I am confident that my friends living in America will have deeper insights into the ongoing processes.

Possible Solutions

On November 3, all of this will either stop or deepen further.”