Fear or Identity? Explaining Armenia's Stance Toward Russia in the Context of the War in Ukraine

Abstract

This paper explores the role that identity and ideology play in Armenia's position on Russia in the context of the Ukrainian war. Armenia's stance is striking for its traditional solidarity with Russia, even in the face of highly controversial actions. It would be easy to fall prey to reductionism to structural constraints and argue that Armenia's vast economic dependence on Russia dictates its foreign policy. While there is no denying that Armenia's huge economic, energy, and security dependence on Russia has significantly influenced the country's pro-Russian foreign policy choices, the position is more complex. Fertile ground for the role in Armenian political thinking of Russia as a "savior" has been prepared by the hostile images ascribed to Azerbaijan and Turkey. In addition, Ukraine's close relationships with Armenia's traditional enemies have exacerbated the situation, widening the gap between "Us" and "Them." It is, therefore, not surprising that both society and the government in Armenia have been silent on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The paper concludes that a combination of material and conceptual forces has shaped Armenia's pro-Russian stance in the context of the war in Ukraine.