“Revolution, coup, conspiracy… What exactly happened in Armenia in 2018, who organized it, and with what objectives?” — political analyst Stepan Danielyan asks. According to him, the events that began in 2018 imply not only domestic but also geopolitical shifts.
1. What Happened in 2018
Political analyst Stepan Danielyan asks:
“Revolution, coup or planned operation? Who organized it and why?”
He argues that the process was both political and geopolitical.
The fall of Artsakh became a turning point. It opened the path for changes affecting regions from Central Asia to the Middle East.
2. Role of Intelligence Services
Danielyan claims that major transformations are often driven by intelligence services.
They reshape:
- cultural codes,
- value systems,
- national identity.
He points to Ukraine and Georgia.
After the Maidan, Ukraine entered an identity shift that later ended in war and crisis.
3. Turkey and Britain: Identity Engineering
Turkey
The Ottoman Empire built an Islamic identity model.
Atatürk then created a modern, secular national identity.
Danielyan believes similar methods are being applied in Armenia today.
United Kingdom
Britain used the “divide and rule” method in Africa and during Soviet-era liberation movements.
These strategies still generate long-term conflicts.
4. Stages of Identity Transformation
Stage 1 — Demoralization
Traditional values, religion and morality are weakened.
In Armenia this intensified after 2018:
profanity in parliament, aggressive public speech, cultural decline.
Stage 2 — Destabilization
Society becomes divided:
“church vs Protestant groups”, “rich vs poor”, “city vs village”.
Instability increases.
Stage 3 — Crisis and Normalization
New cultural codes appear.
If society accepts them, they become the new norm.
If not, social collapse may follow.
5. The Overton Window
Ideas once seen as taboo gradually become acceptable.
Example: discussions on changing Armenia’s coat of arms.
The unacceptable becomes normalized step by step.
6. Modern Propaganda: “Firehose of Falsehood”
Danielyan cites the RAND Corporation model.
The goal is confusion, not persuasion:
- chaotic information flow,
- audience exhaustion,
- loss of ability to distinguish truth from lies.
7. The Result
According to Danielyan, processes since 2018 have led to:
- war and territorial loss,
- erosion of traditional values,
- identity crisis,
- political system instability.
He views it as a long-term, intelligence-driven strategy aimed at reshaping regional geopolitics.