WHO ARE WE?

Panorama.am
15:06 13/11/2007

A conference titled "Public reforms and identity challenges in Armenia"
kicked of at Yerevan State University (YSU) today. The participants
will touch issues of identity during the discussions and debates.

One of the most important questions to be raised is what the
sociologists have to add to public development. Other questions
of interest are how sociologists understand the public-political
development and what impact they have on the identity of an Armenian.

"The issue of identity has been discussed since late 19th century. In
the 20th century it was a modern topic and now it has got a new
significance since we are independent," YSU sociology department dean
and professor Ludmila Harutunyan told a discussion with reporters.

"There is an opinion that the Armenian identity is undergoing a crisis
and the question is if it really is a crisis. And if it is so, how we
can overcome that," the sociologist raises the question and says that
the sociologists are trying to solve that question now. The immediate
task of sociologists is to be a doctor of society and to be able to
find solutions to challenges.

In her opinion the crisis of the Armenian identity has started since
1991 when Karabakh war started and ended with our victory. At that
time, a question was raised: "Who are we?" "After the independence,
time came to build a new identity and the current generation must be
able to face that challenge," she said.

The conference was dedicated to the day of Sociology Department which
is celebrated on November 13-14.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress