A turn inward

Attached is my abridged translation of Avo Boghossian’s (Աւօ Պօղոսեան) article, which was posted in Asbarez Daily on November 21, 2023. I became aware of the article, which I titled “A Turn Inward” (Շրջադարձ Դէպի Երկիրին Ներսը) because of a controversy it created. Readers will surely render their judgement. Բնագիրը կցուած է։ Vahe H. Apelian

 

“After the end of wars, the feelings of revenge and the desire to resort to arms at any cost are natural manifestations among the defeated parties; foremost to regain the lost dignity, and to recapture the lost territories. Very often, along such feelings, there will be protest, revolution, instability and even manifestations of atrocities against the country's authorities

We often come across such happenings in history. Italy, whose fascist government led World War II, was overthrown and its leader, Benito Mussolini was hanged. In Argentina, after its defeat in the Falkland War, deep dissatisfaction reigned in the country, which led to the overthrow of the ruling junta. Other examples can also be cited. However, everthrowing the authorities does not always crown the country with success because the winner, driven to preserve its gains, naturally follows the enemy and continues to arm itself.

We also see in history that wars have been fought repeatedly between the same two countries for the same piece of land, resulting in change of hands at the cost of destruction, and loss of population.

There is also another post war strategy, which is far more difficult and hence takes longer to implement, considering that it entails directing the people’s instinctive calls for outward revenge, inward towards the country’s development.

In the event this policy is adopted and successfully implemented, the country achieves a high economic development than otherwise and is empowered more. Among the countries that have successfully adopted such a strategy are:

1.        Germany, after the World War II,  it achieved an economic wonder (wirtschaftswunder).

2.        Japan, after its defeat in World War II, became an economic superpower.

3.        South Korea, after the Korean war ended, it turned into an advanced industrial country.

4.        Vietnam, after decades of war and destruction, it was transformed from one of the world's poorest nations to a middle-income economy in one generation.

5.        Findland, turned into a highly industrialized country after its post WWII poverty.

6.        Poland, after the cold war it shed its centrally planned economy to market driven economy and presently ranks competitively in Europe 

***

After its defeat in the Artskah war, fortunately, Armenia did not experience internal political destabilization, although severe depression, a sense of humiliation, and loss of dignity were palpable among the people. But they had the fortidude to remain steadfast by the government and internalized the reality of defeat with a cool heart.  The fact that our defeat was logically inevitable was evident to everyone, even to the opposition minority.

We were dealing with an enemy who, unlike us, was committed to revenge and had been preparing militarily for decades, against which we were indifferent, or our successive governments were forced to remain indifferent. Moreover, Azerbaijan was armed not only with Russian weapons, but also with the most modern Turkish and Israeli military military wares. Against us were the demographic superiority of Azerbaijan, the Turkish special forces, the Islamic radical militias and the silent complicity of Russia. Not only the indifference of the whole world was pitted against us as well, but also its recognition of Azerbaijan where the Republic of Artsakh was not recognized and was regarded as part of its territory.

We should have realized that only 150,000 people on the 12,000 square kilometer territory of Artsakh (12 persons on a 1 square kilometer), could not keep the territory. We must realize that the annexation of the Western Armenia lands we have lost, to Armenia is not realistic, when we have also not managed to make this small island prosperous, from where emigration continues to this day. Even the return ofArtsakh is an almost impossible task. It is high time we realize that we may lose Armenia too, if we continue the same course.

Yes, we should follow the examples of the above-mentioned defeated, but currently developed countries. Let us turn inward. It is mandatory to turn Armenia, at all cost, into a strong fortress with powerful defensive weapons in order to protect it and to undertake the search for ways and means to develop the country's economy vertically, from top to bottom. This is what we have left of our once great country and we must keep it. We have no other place left anymore to retreat to.

In spite of numerous setbacks and shortcomings, fortunately the authorities have adopted this policy. We are witnessing enormous developments in all the spheres, considerable activity in diplomacy, and   effort to learn from the mistakes of the present and of the past.

Although not enough, but progress has been made against fraud and corruption. The country seems to have entered into a reconstruction phase, where road repairs and constructions are visible everywhere. There is effort to improve and raise the educational standards, and a will to develop the country. It is necessary to continue constructive criticism, only constructive cricisism, but we must also not fail to see and appreciate everything that is positive. That is how the state can be strengthened.

There remains obstacles for faster development of the country such as lack of specialists by the standards of devoped countries due to poor educational standards, and emigration. The authorities should definitely find ways to intice specialists from abroad to the homeland, perhaps by paying them on par to the salaries they receive abroad.  

Note:

Շրջադարձ Դէպի Երկիրին Ներսը - https://asbarez.am/շրջադարձ-դէպի-երկրի-ներսը/