Social Sciences in Armenia: Rethinking Politics and International Relations After 1991

The development of social sciences in the post-Soviet space is perceived as a rather unexplored layer of knowledge, representing a whole range of problems that arise in societies in transition (starting from the educational system to the publication of specific academic works). From this perspective, the article is analyzing the case of development of social sciences in Armenia starting from 1991, when it received independence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The article argues, that in the case of Armenia (as well as some post-communist societies), we can see a change in discourse with shifting the emphasis from the historiographical paradigm to the sociocultural or humanitarian one. The following situation arises: the existing theories of political science and international relations overlap with the realities of transitional societies crises of political development in the country. As a result they may not always give the necessary results, since the scientific community has not yet developed a specific approach in the context of the development of academic schools of thought and localized general theoretical approaches. Based on the above the article tests the main hypothesis, which is that the development of social sciences in Armenia is characterized by fragmentation or excessive obsession with specific issues of international relations. In terms of the development of political science in Armenia the article checks three domains: development of political science as a scientific discipline after the disintegration of the Soviet Union; teaching of political science and international relations; as well as the level of think tanks and expert community. The article concludes that despite a 30-year development process, political science in Armenia remains fragmented and needs, one the hand, more cooperation inside the field, and, on the other hand, more state support for better concentration and efficiency.