Emil Ordukhanyan is Senior Lecturer at UNESCO Chair on Human Rights, Democracy and European Studies at Yerevan Brusov State University of Languages and Social Sciences-Armenia. Ordukhanyan is also the founder of the Armenian Political Science website. Here we ask him a few questions about his experiences:
- What projects are you currently working on?
Currently I work with my research group on the following project: Consociational Democracy: Political Morphology and Potential of Realization in Post-Soviet South Caucasus Countries. In our research we found out consociational democracy is one of the most actual theories of democratization for post-soviet societies, especially for those in South Caucasus region. My research group is convinced the model of consociational democracy is a real tool to face the challenges to democracy in post-soviet South Caucasus societies. I really believe our research will be the rebirth of this concept for post-soviet South Caucasus changing societies, because otherwise the variations of democracy which are built in these countries are a direct way to pseudo democracy or even ethnocracy.
- What is the one thing that you wish everyone knew about your research?
I am convinced the concept of Consociational Democracy, being always actual for political science, is especially vital for South Caucasus plural societies which are aiming democratic values as priority. This is the only way to build democracy, rule of law and peace in this region.
- Who has had the greatest influence on your research and/or career?
In my very first research I was deeply influenced by the following work of Samuel Phillips Huntington “Political Order in Changing Societies” because this work helped me to understand and to analyze political order with its peculiarities in post-soviet Armenia as changing society. I’m sure this work of the eminent professor is always actual and irreplaceable for the world political science.For my current research the works of the honorable professor Arend Lijphart on democracy and democratization are very useful. His concept of Consociational Democracy is the keystone for my research.As for my career, I’m very grateful to my PhD supervisor, Academician Dr. Gevorg A. Poghosyan and I’m also thankful to Dr. Levon Gh. Shirinyan to help me in my current research.
This post is part of a series of interviews with our members. Read more MPSA Member profiles.