YEREVAN, Armenia — On February 12, the American University of Armenia (AUA) College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) held the second session of its Faculty Research Series, followed by the inaugural event with Dr. Alen Shadunts. The series is organized by the Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy (MAIRD), Master of Public Affairs (MPA), and Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Governance (BAPG) programs. It aims to foster academic exchange and research dialogue within the University community and will be held regularly throughout the academic year.
The second session featured a presentation by BAPG Program Chair Dr. Yevgenya Paturyan, titled “People Won, Now What? The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Anti-Corruption and Judicial Reform in Post-Uprising Armenia (2018–2025).” The research, co-authored by Dr. Paturyan’s former students Gor Papikyan (BAPG ’25) and Liana Simonyan (MPSIA ’20), is available open access.
The session opened with welcoming remarks by Dr. Jean-François Caron, C. Judson King Endowed Professor (2025–2026) and interim chair of MAIRD and MPA programs.
In her talk, Dr. Paturyan examined developments following Armenia’s 2018 Velvet Revolution, which brought a new government to power with promises of rapid democratization and reform. She highlighted how civil society organizations actively embraced the new political environment, seeking to maintain pro-democratic momentum and influence policy outcomes.
The presentation focused on two key reform areas: anti-corruption and the judiciary. Drawing on document analysis and qualitative interviews with civil society representatives, policy experts, and government officials, the talk explored how civil society actors shaped reform processes after the uprising.
Dr. Paturyan argued that differences in outcomes across these two reform areas can be partly explained by the strength of civil society engagement and the presence or absence of aligned partners. As she noted, in the anti-corruption sector, cooperation among government institutions, prominent civil society organizations, and international partners such as the European Union helped sustain reform momentum. In contrast, judicial reform efforts were marked by significant divisions among civil society groups and experts, which complicated progress.
The talk concluded with an engaging Q&A session, during which students and faculty had the opportunity to discuss the challenges of sustaining reform efforts, the evolving role of civic actors, and lessons for democratic consolidation in Armenia.
Reflecting on the session, Dr. Paturyan said: “I think the Faculty Research Series is a great opportunity to engage students in a conversation about the nuts and bolts of research. We can give them a taste of the process, not just the final polished outcome. It was great to see so many students from our respective programs, but also from other majors. Their questions sparked an interesting conversation.”
The next session of the CHSS Faculty Research Series will take place on March 18, following the University’s spring break.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.
