Can Armenia be Europeanized?

[Arsenium DeLight]

Is it possible to Europeanize Armenia? If so, how exactly?

[Arsenium DeLight]

Europeanization refers to a number of related phenomena and patterns of change:

1. The process in which a notionally non-European subject (be it a culture, a language, a city or a nation) adopts a number of European features

2. Outside of the social sciences, it commonly refers to the growth of a European continental identity or polity over and above national identities and polities on the continent.

3. Europeanisation may also refer to the process through which European Union political and economic dynamics become part of the organisational logic of national politics and policy-making.

[Linet]

They dont lack in culture :old, nor are they much different in their daily life than Europeans....so how do you mean Europeanised? :icon_ask:

[Arsenium DeLight]

Europeanism is a term that encapsulates the norms and values that Europeans have in common, and which transcend national or state identity. In addition to helping promote the integration of the European Union, this doctrine also provides the basis for analyses that characterise European politics, economics, and society as reflecting a shared identity. Opponents to the idea stress that there are various differences among European groups and that the factors seen as characteristic of this shared culture do not necessarily follow its premise.

[drgs]

First country to adopt Christianity as a state religion (Georgia second), in Bible referred to as the cradle of wine-growing and wine production, one of the most ancient states and area where first european hominids are found (Caucasus - therefore the term caucasian)

"Is it possible to Europeanize Armenia?"

Two choices:
1. None of what is listed above can be attributed as European
2. Either the author is an idiot, or everyone else are idiots. Which one is it?

[Arsenium DeLight]

European integration is the process of industrial, political, legal, economic, social and cultural integration of states wholly or partially in Europe. European integration has primarily come about through the European Union and the Council of Europe.

One of the first to conceive of a union of European nations was Count Richard Nikolaus von Coudenhove-Kalergi, who wrote the Pan-Europa manifesto in 1923. His ideas influenced Aristide Briand, who gave a speech in favour of a European Union in the League of Nations on 8 September 1929, and who in 1930 wrote a "Memorandum on the Organization of a Regime of European Federal Union" for the Government of France, which became the first European government formally to adopt the principle.

"We must build a kind of United States of Europe. In this way only, will hundreds of millions of toilers be able to regain the simple joys and hopes which make life worth living."
- Winston Churchill.

At the end of World War II, the continental political climate favoured unity in democratic European countries, seen by many as an escape from the extreme forms of nationalism which had devastated the continent. In a speech delivered on 19 September 1946 at the University of Zürich, Switzerland, Winston Churchill postulated a United States of Europe. The same speech however contains remarks, less often quoted, which make it clear that Churchill did not initially see Britain as being part of this United States of Europe: We British have our own Commonwealth of Nations ... And why should there not be a European group which could give a sense of enlarged patriotism and common citizenship to the distracted peoples of this turbulent and mighty continent and why should it not take its rightful place with other great groupings in shaping the destinies of men? ... France and Germany must take the lead together. Great Britain, the British Commonwealth of Nations, mighty America and I trust Soviet Russia-for then indeed all would be well-must be the friends and sponsors of the new Europe and must champion its right to live and shine.

[SKYNET]

too different culture to be considered Armenia as a Europeanized nation since Europe supports LGBT, while Armenia is a Christian country, and gays/lesbians won't feel comfortable to live in Armenia

[denz]

I was in Georgia not so long ago which is a country that try to be European (like Ukraine) Only what they earn from tourism and wine. City that Stalin had lived (Gori) had been bombed by Russian and they lost their land (Osetia) What they earn is nothing from E.U policies they followed except some EU street signboards and charity organizations.

[Arsenium DeLight]

http://i60.tinypic.com/2cnzh3l.png

[Arsenium DeLight]

Ladrech (1994, 69) defines Europeanisation simply as ‘an incremental process of re-orienting the direction and shape of politics to the extent that EC political and economic dynamics become part of the organisational logic of national politics and policy making.’ This emphasises what is known as the 'top-down approach' to Europeanisation with change emanating from the impact of the Union onto the national policy. The state is viewed as re-active towards changes in the union.

More recently, Moumoutzis (2011: 612) has revised Radaelli's definition and he has argued that Europeanisation should be defined as 'a process of incorporation in the logic of domestic (national and sub-national) discourse, political structures and public policies of formal and informal rules, procedures, policy paradigms, styles, “ways of doing things” and shared beliefs and norms that are first defined in the EU policy processes'.

From a 'bottom-up' approach Europeanisation occurs when states begin to affect the policy of the European Union in a given area.

A more nuanced analysis posits that the institutional interaction of policy actors at the various levels of European governance leads to the re-definition of national, regional and other identities within a European context, where the multiple levels of governance in Europe are not seen as necessarily in opposition to one another. An elected representative can, for example, see his loyalties and responsibilities as lying with Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and Europe or with Amsterdam, Netherlands and Europe, for unitary states. Some scholars, including Samuel Huntington, argue that citizens of European states increasingly identify themselves as such, rather than Portuguese, British, French, German, Italian etc.

An obvious area of change is in the institutions of Europe; the enlargement of the European Union and the gradual acquisition of authority over the national member governments in numerous areas is creating a centralised European polity. The Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union would be an example of this; in this case, the nations using the euro have passed control of their monetary policy to the European Central Bank.

Another perspective of Europeanisation is the 'horizontal approach.' This approach takes into account the transfer of politics, policies and policy making between member states of the European Union. The transfer is based on a form of 'soft law' therefore it is not enforceable, but is based on 'best practice' and mutual recognition.

Whether Europeanisation is a continuing process that will eventually lead to a full European government or whether centralisation will be unable to overcome persisting national identities and/or increasing interest in localism is a matter of some debate.

[Instinct]

It would be possible but Armenia is far away from Europe and the political route is with Russia still very strong influence of former USSR.

[Arsenium DeLight]

A study by political scientist John McCormick expands on the ideas of Europeanism, and identifies the following as core attributes of Europeanism:

1. The decline of identification with the state, the rediscovery of national identities (while repudiating state-based nationalism), and a rethinking of the meaning of citizenship and patriotism. In regard to the latter, pride in country is being replaced with pride in ideas, otherwise known as constitutional patriotism. Identification with nations or states is being increasingly joined with identification with Europe.

2. Cosmopolitanism, or an association with universal ideas, and a belief that that all Europeans, and possibly even all humans, belong to a single moral community that transcends state boundaries or national identities. The local and the global cannot be separated or divorced.

3. Communitarianism, which - in contrast to the liberal emphasis on individual rights - supports a balance between individual and community interests, emphasising the responsibilities of government to all those who live under its jurisdiction. Europeanism argues that society may sometimes be a better judge of what is good for individuals rather than vice versa.

4. The collective society. Europeanism emphasises the view that societal divisions will occur in spite of attempts to ensure equal opportunity, and accepts the role of the state as an economic manager and as a guarantor of societal welfare.

5. Welfarism, or a reference to Europeanist ideas that while individual endeavour is to be welcomed, applauded and rewarded, the community has a responsibility for working to ensure that the playing field is as level as possible, and that opportunity and wealth are equitably distributed. Europeanism emphasises equality of results over equality of opportunity.

6. Sustainable development, or the belief that development should be sustainable, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.

7. Redefining the family. The place of the European family is changing, with fewer Europeans opting to marry, their ages at marriage rising, their divorce rates growing, their fertility rates declining, more children are being born outside marriage, and single-parent households becoming more usual.

8. Working to live. Post-material Europeans are working fewer hours, are doing more with those hours, and have developed family-friendly laws and policies.

9. Criminal rights. In matters of criminal justice, Europeanism means a greater emphasis on individual rights, and a preference for resolving disputes through negotiation rather than confrontation through the law.

10. Multiculturalism, in which Europe has a long and often overlooked tradition arising from the diversity of European societies, and a Europeanist habit of integrating core values and features from new groups with which its dominant cultures have come into contact. This has been challenged of late by the increased racial and religious diversity of Europe.

11. Secularism is probably the one quality most clearly associated with Europe: while religion continues to grow in most of the rest of the world, in Europe its role is declining, and it plays an increasingly marginal role in politics and public life, while heavily influencing Europeanist attitudes towards science and towards public policies in which religious belief plays a role.

12. Opposition to capital punishment. This is prohibited in all European Union and Council of Europe member states, and European governments have worked to achieve a global moratorium as a first step towards its worldwide abolition.

13. Perpetual peace. Where once Europe was a region of near constant war, conflict and political violence, it is today a region of generalised peace, and one which has made much progress along the path to achieving the Kantian condition of perpetual peace. Inter-state war in the region is unthinkable and impossible, even during the worse economic or financial troubles.

14. Multilateralism. Europeanism has eschewed national self-interest in favour of cooperation and consensus, of the promotion of values rather than interests, of reliance on international rules and agreements, and of building coalitions and working through international organisations to resolve problems.

[Bloodsport]

Armenia is already 100% culturally European.

[Borna]

No, and there is no need for such thing.

[Styrian Mujo]

No Armenia can't be European in the same way core European Catholic/Protestant nations are. The Caucasus mountins could only be Europeanized to the extent the Balkans were. The other problem is that Armenia doesn't even border any real European country. Armenia was part of the Soviet union but even Russia is not really Europe but rather a unique cultural entity.

[Musso]

We are definetly more European than Semitic countries in the Middle East and Central Asian countries, but not as European as countries in continental Europe. We are a hybrid, like a bridge between East and West, same goes for Georgia and Turkey.

However, We are more socially conservative than Europe and more religious. We are also probably more family oriented than the average European. That being said, our constitution was modelled after the French Constitution, and we have always strived to reform our governance and political structure with that of European structures.

So to answer the question, if we can be Europeanized...politically we are already being Europeanized, since we strive to have a European system of governance and politics...culturally it would be very hard to Europeanize us because we have a cherished Christian culture that would not want to infuse with European Secularism and social liberalism.

In the end, if you walk the streets of Yerevan, the capital, you will feel much more in Europe, then walking the streets of Tehran, Amman, Tel Aviv, Tashkent, Beirut, etc.

[Scholarios]

Europeanism is a term that encapsulates the norms and values that Europeans have in common, and which transcend national or state identity. In addition to helping promote the integration of the European Union, this doctrine also provides the basis for analyses that characterise European politics, economics, and society as reflecting a shared identity. Opponents to the idea stress that there are various differences among European groups and that the factors seen as characteristic of this shared culture do not necessarily follow its premise.

In this sense, Armenians are already Europeans. Though their current nation-state is allied with Russia instead of Western Europe.

[Musso]

In this sense, Armenians are already Europeans. Though their current nation-state is allied with Russia instead of Western Europe.

In terms of security we are allied with Russia, in terms of political reforms we are with EU, since we continuously our reforming our governance and political structures to be in line with EU standards.

[wvwvw]

It can be Islamified to fit better with the environment

[Scholarios]

It can be Islamified to fit better with the environment

Oh, Raine... you make it sound so simple...

[Musso]

It can be Islamified to fit better with the environment

They tried doing that for over a thousand years, we spilled a lot blood to remain who we are, and thank God we have succeeded.

[Linet]

We are definetly more European than Semitic countries in the Middle East and Central Asian countries, but not as European as countries in continental Europe. We are a hybrid, like a bridge between East and West, same goes for Georgia and Turkey.

However, We are more socially conservative than Europe and more religious. We are also probably more family oriented than the average European. That being said, our constitution was modelled after the French Constitution, and we have always strived to reform our governance and political structure with that of European structures.

So to answer the question, if we can be Europeanized...politically we are already being Europeanized, since we strive to have a European system of governance and politics...culturally it would be very hard to Europeanize us because we have a cherished Christian culture that would not want to infuse with European Secularism and social liberalism.

In the end, if you walk the streets of Yerevan, the capital, you will feel much more in Europe, then walking the streets of Tehran, Amman, Tel Aviv, Tashkent, Beirut, etc.


But you see, you compair it to middle Easter capitals when you should compare it to European ones and find it equal.
Personaly , i dont think that Armenia has a less-European lifestyle :coffee: than many core European states but that doesnt make it European. By that i mean....If China tomorrow has a fully European lifestyle, that wont make it Europe (I know its an extreme examble but i wanted to make a point).

[Musso]

But you see, you compair it to middle Easter capitals when you should compare it to European ones and find it equal.
Personaly , i dont think that Armenia has a less-European lifestyle :coffee: than many core European states but that doesnt make it European. By that i mean....If China tomorrow has a fully European lifestyle, that wont make it Europe (I know its an extreme examble but i wanted to make a point).

Well I would say the Armenian Capital is closer to the capitals of countries like Moldova, Belarus, Bulgaria, aka, ex-Soviet, Eastern European countries. I don't see Armenia as European per se, but I see it as more European than Middle East and Central Asia. But the thing is, modern day Armenia is a typical ex-Soviet country with considerable Russian influence.

[StormBringer]

From OPs posts I've read in this thread, Europe should be Armenianized.

[Wild North]

Would it be fair to say, that Armenia is rather close to the East European cultural sphere.

[Musso]

Would it be fair to say, that Armenia is rather close to the East European cultural sphere.

Thanks to 90 years of Soviet/Russian influence we certainly have been influenced by that cultural sphere.

---

Armenia in general still remains more conservative than Europe and our traditions remain native to the Caucasus/Anatolia region. But again, tourists that come from the Middle East, from Arabian Countries or Iran, when they come to Armenia, they routinely say that for them it's like coming to Europe. Of course for an Armenian, Europe is going to Paris or Rome.