On June 20 at 17:00, Armen Khachikyan, Executive Director of the ARAR Civilizational Research Foundation, presented the results of a sociological study conducted on public-political issues.
\nThe research was conducted from May 8 to June 5.<\/p>\n
The results of the study revealed perceptions on the following:<\/p>\n
53.3% of Armenians use Facebook, 35.6% use YouTube, 21.9% use Instagram, 14.9% use TikTok, 8.5% use Telegram, 0.3% use Twitter, and 14.2% found it difficult or refused to answer \u2014 when it comes to receiving information.
\nWomen use Facebook and Instagram more often, while men use TikTok and Telegram more. YouTube is used equally by both men and women.
\nFacebook is most popular among middle-aged people \u2014 63.7%. 48.8% of those aged 55 and older use Facebook, and 46.6% of 18\u201334-year-olds.
\nInstagram is most used by 18\u201334-year-olds \u2014 47.5%, 14.8% of 35\u201354-year-olds, and 7.2% of those aged 55+.
\nYouTube shows a different picture: 45.6% of those aged 55+, 34.7% of 35\u201354-year-olds, and 24.8% of 18\u201334-year-olds use it.
\nAs with Instagram, TikTok and Telegram are most used by the 18\u201334 age group. 19.6% of 18\u201334-year-olds use TikTok, 16.4% of 35\u201354-year-olds, and 9.5% of those aged 55+.
\nTelegram is used by 16.8% of 18\u201334-year-olds, 7% of 35\u201354-year-olds, and 2.9% of those aged 55+.<\/p>\n
Some of the survey questions addressed the internal and external policies of the RA authorities.
\n\u201cAbout 59% of respondents believe that the Armenian authorities are conducting the wrong foreign policy, 31.5% believe the policy is correct. 9.6% of respondents found it difficult to answer the question,\u201d said the Foundation\u2019s Director Armen Khachikyan.
\n67.8% of respondents believe that the Armenian authorities are pursuing the wrong domestic policy, while only 25.4% think the authorities are conducting the right policy. 6.8% found it difficult to answer.<\/p>\n
According to the research, 64.9% of 18\u201334-year-olds, 58.6% of 35\u201354-year-olds, and 54.1% of those aged 55+ consider the foreign policy of the RA authorities to be wrong.
\nAccording to Armen Khachikyan, Yerevan residents are much more anti-government \u2014 around 63% stated that the foreign policy is wrong.<\/p>\n
The survey also included questions about the socio-economic situation of society.
\n\u201c30% of respondents noted that their socio-economic condition has improved in recent years. Around 40% said the situation has remained the same, and about 27% said their social condition has worsened,\u201d said Armen Khachikyan, emphasizing that in essence, for about 42% of society, the socio-economic condition has remained unchanged over the past 5 years.<\/p>\n
Regarding the work of various RA institutions, the most trusted are the RA Armed Forces and the Armenian Apostolic Church \u2014 61.7% and 59.7% respectively.
\nTrust in the police is 49%, in the Government \u2014 about 28%, and in the National Assembly \u2014 about 19%.<\/p>\n
The research also covered Armenia\u2019s military alliance preferences.
\n28.4% of respondents said Armenia should form military-strategic relations with Russia, 22.2% preferred EU countries, 21.6% \u2014 Iran, 16% \u2014 the USA, and 5.9% \u2014 India.
\n3.7% stated that no country should be seen as a military ally, and 2.2% found it difficult or refused to answer the question.<\/p>\n
Armen Khachikyan added that this research confirms the well-known discourse that those who believe the authorities\u2019 policies are wrong are more inclined toward forming military-strategic relations with Russia.<\/p>\n
The survey also addressed perceptions of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
\nAbout 31% of respondents agreed that it is possible to achieve long-term peace through negotiations with Azerbaijan, while 68.5% believe it is not possible.
\n62.8% believe a peace treaty cannot be signed without resolving the Artsakh issue, while 33.5% believe it can be.<\/p>\n
Speaking on questions about the future of Artsakh, Armen Khachikyan noted that 87.5% of respondents believe the loss of Artsakh is temporary.
\n\u201cWhen Artsakh was finally lost in September\u2013October 2023, and we began the research in December, this figure was 77%. I had assumed it would decline. To everyone\u2019s delight, the figure has risen, and people believe that one day we must strengthen our army and take back what we lost,\u201d said Armen Khachikyan.<\/p>\n
23.7% of respondents reacted positively to possible autonomy for Artsakh within Azerbaijan, 74% \u2014 negatively.<\/p>\n
A question was also raised about the return of Artsakh residents.
\nThe majority of respondents \u2014 67.4% \u2014 said the return is possible if Armenia becomes stronger and liberates it again.
\n11.2% believe it\u2019s possible under international security guarantees within Azerbaijan, 8.3% \u2014 if Russian peacekeepers return and the November 9 agreement is extended.
\n8% responded that return is only possible in the distant future if Azerbaijan undergoes reforms, while 2.9% believe it\u2019s not possible under any circumstances.<\/p>\n
The final part of the research related to perceptions of the ideal family.
\nRespondents were asked how many children an ideal family should have.
\nAround 60% of respondents said that an ideal family should have up to 3 or exactly 3 children, while 40% believe that it should have 4 or more.
\nAmong those aged 55+, the desired number of children in an ideal family is 4 or more.
\n72.4% of 18\u201334-year-olds answered that an ideal family should have up to 3 or exactly 3 children.
\nThe same answer was given by 60.2% of 35\u201354-year-olds.<\/p>\n
Summing up the meeting, participants exchanged views and presented several suggestions for future research.<\/p>\n