Regional Studies Center (RSC)
Organizational Description
Since our founding as an independent think tank in 2012, the Regional Studies Center (RSC) has been conducting a wide range of strategic analysis and objective research, and implementing a number of educational and policy-related projects. As a leading think tank based in Armenia, the RSC conducts research and analysis and develops policy initiatives aimed at bolstering political and economic reform and conflict resolution in the broader South Caucasus region.
Moreover, as an independent think tank, the RSC is actively engaged in the public policy process and, over the longer term, seeks to serve as a catalyst for democratic reform and sustainable economic development through the empowerment of civil society and by contributing to the formulation of public policy through innovative and objective research, analysis and policy recommendations. Our research and project activities consist of five main program areas:
- Regional analyses and assessments of political, economic and security issues in the South Caucasus, but also including Iran, Russia and Turkey;
- National security and defense reform;
- Democratization and good governance;
- Economics and sustainable development;
- Educating and empowering youth as an “agent of change.”
Regional Studies Center (RSC)
60 Aram Street, #53, 3rd floor
0010 Yerevan, Armenia
Tel: (+374) 11 70 99 69
“PARADOX OF POWER: RUSSIA, ARMENIA, AND EUROPE AFTER THE VELVET REVOLUTION”
- Details
- Parent Category: Publications
- Category: RSC Analysis
Authoring a Policy Brief for the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), RSC Director Richard Giragosian offered a broad overview of the geopolitical context in the wake of Armenia’s “Velvet Revolution” of 2018. In this assessment, entitled “Paradox of power: Russia, Armenia, and Europe after the Velvet Revolution,” Giragosian focused on the Russian response to the change of “elites” in Armenia, the critical imperative for European support, and the efforts by Prime Minister Pashinyan and his government to garner greater “room to maneuver” and more options to offset the danger of Armenia’s over-dependence on Russia, while accelerating and deepening domestic reform.
“A NEW CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE IN ARMENIAN FOREIGN POLICY”
In the latest analysis of developments in Armenian foreign policy, RSC Director Richard Giragosian co-authored an article with Ellen Hokhikyan in Armenian, entitled “Նոր «վստահության ճգնաժամ» Հայաստանի արտաքին քաղաքականության մեջ” (“A New ‘Crisis of Confidence’ in Armenian Foreign Policy”), that was published on 25 March by the 1in.am electronic news agency.
RSC SEMINAR ON HYBRID THREATS & FORGING RESILIENCE
On 14 March, the Regional Studies Center (RSC), our independent think tank in Armenia, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland held a seminar on “Forging Resilience and Hybrid Threats.”
The special seminar featured opening remarks by Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan, on behalf of the Regional Studies Center (RSC), and Finnish Ambassador to Armenia Arja Makkonen.
RSC INTERVIEW ASSESSES RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN ARMENIA
In an extensive interview the Factor.am electronic news website, RSC Director Richard Giragosian offered an assessment of recent developments in Armenia, including political events, Armenian-Russian relations and the Nagorno Karabakh peace process. Giragosian began by noting that the forced resignation of former president-turned-premier Serzh Sarkisian and the subsequent coming to power of the Pashinyan government in April-May did not constitute a revolution by itself. Rather, he argued that the term revolution implied “sweeping and systemic change that was now only just underway.” Given that logic, however, there is also “no counter-revolution, but rather a political conflict, driven by those that resist change.” Commenting on the role of former President Robert Kocharian, Giragosian argued that “the former president was just that- former,” and “discredited.” For the full interview, in Armenian, see: https://factor.am/76945.html
RSC DIRECTOR ON WIDER REPERCUSSIONS OF DETENTION OF FORMER ARMENIAN PRESIDENT
Among the sweeping changes in Armenia since the rise of the new Pashinyan government in May, there are profound repercussions from a determined drive against corruption and, more recently, a commitment to investigating and holding to account those responsible for the post-election killings in March 2008. Each of these moves demonstrate that there are no longer political taboos and even less restraints.
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