Articles

The protests that erupted in Iran in late December 2025 and the subsequent escalation of hostilities between Iran and the United States have rekindled discussions regarding a new military attack on Iran. What impact will these developments have on Armenia’s security and how might security risks be mitigated without compromising democratic principles? This article attempts to address these questions while introducing new dilemmas. 

Life emerged from water; yet, as we migrated to land, the elements of the ecosystem folded that aquatic habitat deep within our own bodies. Since the dawn of Earth, the very same water has been circulating, making us all inextricable parts of a vast, shared expanse – the Hypersea. 

While the discourse on peace and conflict in Georgia typically centers around the Russo-Georgian war and relations with the occupied territories, the concept of peace is far more nuanced than the mere absence of armed conflict.

Rural areas in Georgia suffer from high levels of poverty, declining biodiversity and are characterized by small farms with low productivity which are under pressure to industrialize and use increasing amounts of pesticides. Ecovillage Georgia is a living lab that explores how community-based, regenerative and organic agriculture provides a viable alternative to revive the countryside, regenerate soil and biodiversity and create fair and resilient economic models. Organic agriculture can support smallholder farming, is free from agro-chemicals and increases climate resilience.

Few regions illustrate the relevance of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda as clearly as the South Caucasus, where multiple protracted conflicts date back to the Soviet era and its dissolution. Despite this, women across the region have been at the forefront of peacebuilding efforts, dialogue, and community resilience, often working with limited recognition and support.

On December 4, 2025, the Heinrich Boell Foundation Yerevan Office – South Caucasus Region hosted a Boell Talks webinar on disinformation and external interference in Armenian politics. As Armenia moves toward its expected June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections, Russian disinformation and broader hybrid threats pose increasing risks to democratic processes. From media manipulation to economic pressure and regional tensions, these challenges mirror patterns seen in Moldova - a country that has taken significant steps to strengthen its resilience.

Through the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, this article challenges “peace at all costs,” revealing how authoritarian peace becomes institutionalized at the expense of justice and public participation.

A new wave of Azerbaijani migration is taking shape in Berlin - politically engaged, largely left-leaning, and critical of both the regime and the opposition back home. Unlike earlier migrants, they do not identify with traditional diaspora structures nor fully align with existing dissident circles. Their community remains fragile, shaped by legal precarity and the psychological toll of exile. Yet there are signs that an 'alternative Azerbaijani diaspora' - one defined more by shared values than by nationality - is emerging.

This analysis explores whether competing trade corridors can foster stability or entrench authoritarian bargains, and asks a central question: can there be lasting stability in the South Caucasus without resilient, democratic states at its core?

Although Tbilisi officially aims to become a "Green City," the reality on the ground tells a different story. There is limited access to functional green spaces, rapid urban sprawl and a tendency to prioritize aesthetics over ecological considerations. This article critically explores how governance, design and environmental policies intersect to influence the city's sustainability efforts.

This year's Sakharov Prize goes to two journalists who are currently imprisoned, including Mzia Amaghlobeli from Georgia.

Independent media in the South Caucasus faces pressure, disinformation and funding cuts. Read our latest on the struggles - and resilience - of media in the region.

Located in the south of Georgia, bordering Armenia and Türkiye, lies the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti. This article analyses the challenges of youth (those aged 14-29) in and from the region, focusing on mental health, political participation, recreation, and emigration. In demographically and geopolitically complex surroundings, youth issues usually do not stand in the spotlight of public and political discourse. This results in a lack of awareness and support from decision makers, which in turn reinforces the struggles young people face in their daily lives, likely contributing to high youth emigration rates.

Heinrich Boell Foundation Yerevan Office – South Caucasus Region invites you to take part in the four-day Green Laboratory Armenia 2025, whether you are eager to deepen your understanding of the connections between biodiversity and political ecology, or critically engage with the pressing environmental and social challenges shaping Armenia’s future.

On April 29, the Heinrich Boell Foundation Yerevan Office – South Caucasus Region, the Turpanjian Institute of Social Sciences (AUA), and the Oral History Matters (OHM) initiative (AUA) hosted the official book launch of the Armenian translation of David Leupold's Embattled Dreamlands: The Politics of Contesting Armenian, Kurdish, and Turkish Memory in Akian Art Gallery at the American University of Armenia.

This article explores the relationship between identity, heritage, and place in the villages of Akhali Khulgumo and Tambovka near Paravani Lake. It highlights the social change these villages have experienced since 1991. It examines how the interplay between memory of the past and the changing dwelling practices of the Dukhobor houses in Tambovka is constitutive of broader socio-cultural transformations, positioning the two villages also within current (geo)political dynamics and new identity negotiations.

Cengiz Aktar critically analyses the enduring impact of the denial of the Armenian Genocide on Turkey's state formation, social ethics and political culture, arguing that unresolved memory perpetuates systemic decay.

While a tamada, the traditional master of ceremonies, is no novelty in the Georgian cultural context, taking the seat at the head table of the Energy Community’s Ministerial Council marks a first occasion in Georgia’s political and regulatory journey towards energy transition. But will this presidency move Georgia from participant to a true agenda-setter, or remain largely symbolic amid domestic challenges and current tensions with the EU? Can it become a genuine turning point after years of stalled reforms?

Small parties in Armenia face numerous challenges, including limited resources, a narrow economic base, unequal access to media, a personalist party tradition, and barriers to political inclusion. Despite these obstacles, they can still play a vital role in post-election coalitions and contribute to the development of democratic and inclusive governance.

Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric has been a central element of the Georgian Dream’s anti-democratic turn towards the far right. How do anti-LGBTQ+ statements and policies help GD expand its grip on power, and why does this strategy work?