South Caucasus: Politics in times of crisis
“South Caucasus: Politics in times of crisis” is an online course set up by the Caucasus Institute in the framework of a project implemented with the financial support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Armenia. It is a series of lectures about the politics in the South Caucasus in times of the COVID-19 pandemic aimed at building a capacity for policy analysis.
The course is tailored for Armenian youth. The lectures and the reading materials are to help understand and interpret the changing political realities in times of crisis, get an alternative viewpoint and a valuable set of up-to-date information.
Lecture 1
Lecturer: Georgi Derluguian, Professor of Social Research and Public Policy at New York University Abu Dhabi
Topic - The Three Shocking Possibilities: Revolution, Involution, Extinction
Language - English
Lecture 1 Reading materials
- Books
- Links
- Articles
- William H. McNeill "Plagues and Peoples". Recommended parts: Preface, Introduction, Chapters IV, V.
- Георгий Дерлугьян "Кризисы неовотчинного правления". ЛОГОС. Философско-литературный журнал
№5 2006
Lecture 2
Lecturer: Alexander Iskandaryan, Political Scientist, Director of the Caucasus Institute, Yerevan
Topic - Political impact of the COVID pandemic on the countries of the South Caucasus
Language - Russian
Lecture 3
Lecturer: Hrant Mikayelyan, Demographer and Economist, Senior Researcher at the Caucasus Institute, Yerevan
Topic - Economic impact of the pandemic on the countries of the South Caucasus
Language - Armenian
Lecture 3 Reading Materials
- Links
- Publications
- Pragyan Deb, Davide Furceri, Jonathan D. Ostry, Nour Tawk. “The economic effects of COVID-19 containment measures.” VOX EU, 17 June 2020.
- The World Bank. “The Global Economic Outlook During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Changed World.” 8 June, 2020.
- Грант Микаэлян. “Азербайджан в период кризиса. Внешняя торговля, бюджет, ВВП и нефтяной сектор.” Кавказский узел, 11 июля 2020.
- Грант Микаэлян. “Экономика Южного Кавказа в период пандемии. Ситуация в Грузии.” Кавказский узел, 11 июля 2020.
Lecture 4
Lecturer: Marina Muskhelishvili, Professor at the Department of Social and Political Sciences at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University
Topic - The rally-around-the-flag effect in Georgia
Language - English
Lecture 4 Reading Materials
- Books
- Links
- Andrew Heywood. Political Ideologies: An Introduction
Lecture 5
Lecturer: Edgar Elbakyan, Junior Fellow at the Scientific-Research Laboratory of Strategic Research, Yerevan State University
Topic - Azerbaijan in the times of crisis
Language - Armenian
Lecture 5 Reading Materials
- Publications
- Links
- Esmira Jafarova. “Azerbaijan: Energy, reforms, COVID-19 and optimism.” Modern Diplomacy, 16 April 2020.
- Yaver Kazimbeyli. “Azerbaijan Unveils Plan to Revive Tourism Post-Coronavirus.” Caspian News, 19 May 2020.
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. “UAE Sends Medical Aid to Azerbaijan in Fight against COVID-19.” 21 June 2020.
- “COVID-19: Azerbaijan Reinstates Lockdown; Pakistan Opens Afghan Border Crossing.” RFE/RL, 21 June 2020․
Lecture 6
Lecturer: Gor Petrosyan, Political Scientist, Researcher at Caucasus Institute, Yerevan
Topic - Armenia’s stalled reform agenda and crisis management in time of pandemic
Language - Armenian
Lecture 6 Reading Materials
- Books
- Links
- John J. Mearsheimer. Why Leaders Lie: The Truth About Lying in International Politics .
- Public Opinion Survey:
Residents of Armenia
June 2020 - Lusine Sargsyan. "Observations About Armenia’s COVID-19 Response.” EVNReport, 6 July 2020.
- Shant Shekherdimian, and Nerses Kopalyan. “Armenia Combats the Coronavirus: State Capacity and the Diaspora.” EVNReport, 22 March 2020.
- Ашот Газазян. «В Армении спорят об эффективности "мягкого карантина"”. DW, 14 мая 2020