Report Release and Panel Discussion on Civil Society, Development, and Environmental Activism in Armenia

A public presentation and panel discussion on  the newly published academic report titled 

CIVIL SOCIETY, DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIROMENTAL ACTIVISM IN ARMENIA

by

Dr. Armine Ishkanian,
Department of Social Policy,
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

 21 November 2013
18:00-21:00
American University of Armenia,
Manoogian Hall

40 Marshal Baghramyan Ave., Yerevan

 Dr. Ishkanian will discuss the findings in her newly published academic report based on extensive research conducted from 2011 to 2013 on the rise of environmental activism in Armenia. The report, to be launched at this event, particularly focuses on civil society campaigns against mining in the country. Through an examination of recent activism in Armenia (2007-present), Ishkanian highlights the achievements as well as the challenges and obstacles facing civil society in Armenia. The objective of this report is to contribute to on-going debates within Armenia and its Diaspora about mining in the country as well as the wider socio-economic and political developments in Armenia.

Ishkanian’s presentation on her findings will be followed by presentations and discussions by eminent Armenian scholars and researchers:

–   Professor Levon Abrahamian, Corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA) and the Head of the Department of Contemporary Anthropological Studies, Institute of Archaeology & Ethnography, NAS RA

–   Dr. Hranush Kharatyan, Leading specialist at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia.

–   Dr. Yevgenya Paturyan, Assistant Director, Turpanjian Center for Policy Analysis, American University of Armenia (AUA).

The panel discussion will be chaired by Alen Amirkhanian, Director, American University of Armenia’s Acopian Center for the Environment.

Q&A and reception will follow.

English and Armenian simultaneous translation will be available.

About the author:  Dr. Armine Ishkanian is a Lecturer in the Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics. Her research examines the relationship between civil society and social transformation as well as how civil society organisations and social movements engage in policy processes. She is the author of numerous academic articles and two books: Democracy Building and Civil Society in Armenia (2008) and The Big Society Debate: A New Agenda for Social Welfare? (2012).

About the event: The report launch and panel discussion are co-organised by the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment in conjunction with the “Socioscope” Societal Research & Consultancy NGO. The publication of the report and the launch are supported by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

For more information, please contact:

 [email protected] or [email protected]

(+374 10) 50 04 99 or (+374 10) 51 25 20