Prerequisites for the Formation of Socio-political and Ideological Foundations for Armenia's Transition to Democracy

Abstract

This article examines the socio-political, ideological, and mental prerequisites that shaped Armenia's transition to democracy following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Adopting a qualitative political-science approach that combines the historical-institutional method with a comparative analysis of the socialist and liberal ideological platforms, the study traces how the gradual dismantling of Soviet totalitarianism—beginning with Nikita Khrushchev's de-Stalinization, mass housing construction, and the erosion of the “sacred” attitude toward state authority—created the social and psychological conditions for a positive reception of democratic values among Armenian citizens. The analysis further considers the pressures of economic liberalization, the ideological affinities between socialism and liberalism, and the historically rooted duality of the Armenian mentality, which combines a strong sense of individualism, creativity, and entrepreneurial drive with a conservative, collectivist orientation toward preserving national identity. The article argues that, paradoxically, many of the necessary prerequisites for Armenia's post-Soviet democratic transformation were formed during the Soviet period itself, well before the country achieved formal independence. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the socio-cultural foundations underlying post-Soviet democratization processes in Armenia and the South Caucasus more broadly.