Vol. 14 No. 2 (38) (2023)

View Vol. 14 No. 2 (38) (2023)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46991/BYSU:F/2023.14.2
Published: 2023-12-25

Full Issue

Political Sociology

  • Political Sociology

    The Structural Model of Dynamics of Political Loyalty of Yerevan Population

    Samvel Manukyan
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    Abstract

    Recently the general background of political processes in Armenia is the low loyalty in Armenian society to the country's political course and the low level of trust in the party system. The article presents a model of the dynamics of general loyalty of the population, in particular loyalty to the country's political course among the population of Yerevan. The model is based on data from a representative sociological survey conducted in Yerevan in November 2022. We construct the model by the structural equation modeling method. It represents the direction and the force of various factors that influence the level of loyalty of the population. In the model the factor “Loyalty” represents the acceptability of the country’s political course, trust in the political leaders, and trust in the State officials. The model shows that the factor “Revolution” determining the level of acceptability of the "velvet revolution" 2018 and the level of realization of expectations from the revolution, has the maximum influence on the level of “Loyalty”. The relative strength of the factor is 0.51. The higher the realization of expectations, the higher the level of “Loyalty” all other things being equal. The second is the factor “Economy” which determines the positive perceptions of the country's economic state, positive changes over the past year, and positive expectations for the future. The relative strength of the factor is 0.22. The higher the value of the factor, the higher the “Loyalty” all other things being equal. The third is the factor “War” which determines the society’s estimates of missed opportunities during the 44-day war, including the possibility to prevent the war, the possibility to reduce the losses from military defeat, and the possibility to win the war. The relative strength of the factor is -0.16. The more acutely society perceives missed opportunities, the lower the “Loyalty” other things being equal. These factors explain 48% of the variance in “Loyalty”. The results of the analysis of the model and its complete structure can serve as a scientific basis for strategic planning and management in the field of problems related to the political loyalty of the population.

    References

    Atanesyan A., Mkrtichyan A. (2023). Youth perceptions of the war in Ukraine and its possible consequences (on the case of Armenian youth in Yerevan) Journal of Sociology: Bulletin of Yerevan University, Vol. 14 1(37), pp. 07-28․ DOI 10.46991/BYSU:F/2023.14.1.007

    Atanesyan A.V., Mkrtichyan A.E. (2022) Armenia between Russia and the West: Foreign Political Priorities in Public Opinion. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. No 12. P. 88-100 DOI 10.31857/S013216250022088-9 (in Russian)

    Berndt, A.E. (1998). "Typical" model features and their effects on goodness-of-fit indices. Presented at the 106th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA. http://reifman-sem.blogspot.com/2007/02/at-wednesdays-class-well-make-sure.html#:~:text=The%20AMOS%20output%20will%20report,and%20thus%20usually%20produces%20results

    Holbert, Ch. (2023) Sample Size Determination for Correlation Studies․ March 25. URL: https://www.cfholbert.com/blog/sample-size-correlation/#:~:text= As%20a%20final%20note%2C%20the,power%2C%20even%20with%20large%20samples

    Igolkina, A.A., Samsonova M.G. (2018) Method SEM: Structural equation modeling in molecular biology. Biophizika [Biophisics]. V. 63, № 2. pp. 213-224. (in Russian)

    Kline R.B. (2005) Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. The Guilford Press, 2005.

    Miljko (2020) Statistische Beratung Leonardo Miljko․ How to interpret SEM model fit results in AMOS. URL: https://www.Statistische DatenAnalyse.de/images/services/How_to_interpret_SEM_model_fit_results_in_AMOS.pdf .

    Ostipenko R.I. (2013) Brief overview and prospects for the development of structural modeling methods in domestic science and practice. Perspektivy nauki I obrazovaniya [Prospects for science and education]. № 5, pp. 56-99 (in Russian).

  • Political Sociology

    Identifying Integration Barriers for Repatriated Young People in Armenia

    Gagik Tumanyan, Tatevik Karapetyan
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    Abstract

    The problem of repatriation is not new in the Armenian reality. Repatriation, as a process coordinated by the state (through official policy), with its periodicity and massiveness, draws special attention especially in the Soviet period of the Armenian history (in particular, in the case of the wave named "Great Repatriation" in 1946-1948 (Stepanyan, 2020)). Later, in the post-Soviet realities, although repatriation processes continue, they differ from previously organized manifestations, which creates the need for new studies reinterpreting the phenomenon. Along with the historical observations which provide important analytical perspectives, it is important to consider the conceptual foundations of the phenomenon of repatriation from a methodological point of view. In particular, according to distinct dictionary definitions of repatriation, it is the return from exile to the homeland, the return of prisoners of war and civilian population who are outside the borders of their homeland to their homeland as a result of military operations (Aghayan, 1976). Nevertheless, refraining from private definitions of the phenomenon, we will rely on the most general modern interpretations of repatriation, according to which repatriation is the process of returning to the country of departure or the ethnic homeland (regardless of the fact that sometimes the country of departure is not considered a homeland after generations (Barseghyan, 2019)). Moreover, it is important to study repatriation not only from the point of view of opportunities, but also from the point of view of the complex problems of the integration nature following the process.

    Turning to integration as a social phenomenon, we have used the approaches of Bosswick and Heckmann, according to which social integration is the inclusion of the immigrant in the context of the institutional relations of the host country, as well as in the context of social roles and statuses. The authors consider social integration at four interrelated levels: structural, cultural, interactive, and self-identification. In particular, at the structural level, the necessary rights and opportunities provided for immigrants to participate in the host country's social statuses and basic institutions (such as the economy and labor market, the education system, civic participatory processes, housing services) are considered.

    At the cultural level, the authors emphasize the inclusion of the immigrant in the cultural experiences of the host country, in which the acquisition of communication skills (i.e. language skills) about the host country's culture is of special importance. The interactive aspect of integration, in turn, implies the incorporation of the immigrant into the area of social networks and relationships of the host society. At the level of self-identification, Bosswick and Heckmann consider the immigrant's perceptions of self-identification and belonging to social groups in the host country (Bosswick, Heckmann, 2006).

    Together with all of this, in the context of the integration issue, we have highlighted the experience of young repatriates, in which risks of integrative nature, with their possible negative impact, can lead to irreversible consequences. Thus, from the point of view of the socialization process, young people are seen as a key stage of human development, during which a person transitions from childhood to adulthood, or, in other words, from a state of dependence to a state of independence or interdependence. It is during youth that the individual creates foundations for the roles of maturity with their decisions (moral, social, economic, cultural, civil) (UNICEF, 2011). Moreover, the problems characteristic of this stage are even more pronounced in the conditions of the migration experience of young people, which is accompanied by unique risk factors. Their short-term and long-term negative manifestations can have irreversible harmful consequences in an individual's life. In particular, at the personal level, these problems can be expressed by the loss of the possibility of full human development, and at the societal level, they can be seen by the waste of the social, economic and cultural development potential of both sending and host countries (IOM Glossary on Migration, 2019).

    Thus, within the framework of this article, the results of the analysis of the research data are presented, based on which the main features of the factors that serve as obstacles in the integration processes of the repatriated young people are identified. The article presents the heterogeneity of the mentioned factors (structural-institutional, social, cultural, identity), providing a multifaceted view of the current manifestations of repatriation.

    References

    Aghayan E. (1976). Explanatory dictionary of modern Armenian, “Hayastan” hratarakchutyun, Yerevan (in Аrmenian)

    Barseghyan, S., Tanajyan, L. (2019). Repatriation. challenges and prospects (video), URL: https://boon.am/migration-and-repatriation/(in Armenian)

    Stephanyan, A. (2020). The Armenian experience of repatriation (1946-1948), Yerevan, pp. 1-3 (in Аrmenian)

    Belinskaya E.P. (2003). Temporal aspects of self-concept and identity. Identichnost’: Khrestomatiya [Identity: textbook]. Ed. By L.B. Snaider, Moscow, Moskovskii psihol.-sots. Inst., pp. 6-20 (in Russian)

    Battistella, G. (2018). “Return Migration: A conceptual and Policy Framework”, URL: Return Migration: A Conceptual and Policy Framework - The Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS) (cmsny.org)

    Berger, P., Luckmann, Th. (1966). The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge. Garden City, NY: Penguin Books.

    Bosswick W., Heckmann Fr., (2006). “Integration of Immigrants: Contribution of local and regional authorities”. Dublin, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

    Fittante, D, Barry, J․ (2022) .“My second choice was Armenia”: motivations for diasporic return migration among Iranian Armenians to Armenia, Ethnic and Racial Studies, 45:16, 523-543, DOI: 10.1080/01419870.2022.2105658

    ILO, The Youth Employment Crisis: Time for Action, Report V: 101st International Labour Conference, June 2012, ILC.101/V, Geneva. URL: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_norm/---relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_175421.pdf

    IOM Glossary on Migration (2019), International Migration Law, URL: iml_34_glossary.pdf (iom.int)

    Laycock, J. (2012) Armenian Homelands and Homecomings, 1945–9, Cultural and Social History, 9:1, 103-123, DOI:10.2752/147800412X13191165983079

    Oladele, A (2002). Return Migration and the Problem of Reintegration. International Migration. 38. 59 - 82. 10.1111/1468-2435.00128

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    Zetter, R (2016). “Refugees and their return home: Unsettling Matters”, Journal of Refugee Studies Vol. 34, No. 1, 7-22, doi:10.1093/jrs/feab005

Gender Studies

  • Gender Studies

    Women’s Rights Protection Social Movement in the Modern Armenian Society

    Gayane Harutyunyan
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    Abstract

    Current research article is devoted to the exploration of women’s rights protection movement in modern Armenian society. The exploration of the current situation of the women’s rights protection movement in modern Armenian society includes two components. Firstly, through an analysis of documents (the Soviet state’s first codes of different years), the study examines the evolution of the women's rights protection social movement from the Soviet Union. This investigation illustrates how the Soviet Union’s political system had formed and shaped the women’s movement, which also affected the further development of the movement in modern Armenian society. Secondly, this research paper is based on an analysis of 34 in-depth interviews performed in Yerevan city from 2020-2023, with informants engaged in different types of women’s rights protection activism during the last 20 years in Armenian society. Information gathered from interviews allowed us to split the history of the development of the movement into two time-lapses in modern Armenian society. Triangulation of qualitative document analysis and in-depth interviews, equally contributed to the understanding of the main features of the women’s rights protection social movement as a whole social phenomenon in Armenian modern society. One of the key findings of the research is that despite the existence of diverse groups of women’s rights protection activists and just individuals coping with social system gender inequalities, there is difficulties in establishing social movement in modern Armenian society. The most prevailing definitions of social movements assume non-institutionalized collective actions with a clear set of goals. Instead, what currently exists in modern Armenian society is a form of street activism organized by efforts of different institutionalized organizations, where people engage in sporadic protests to raise awareness about gender issues and gender inequality. The paper also sheds light on social obstacles that prevent the initiative from becoming an institutionalized social movement for women’s rights protection in Armenia. The main social-cultural obstacles can be seen as a combination of factors including the absence of a general feminist agenda, lack of structural strain pushing for mobilization and social conservatism, etc.

    References

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    Harutyunyan G. (2021) On the Issue of Social Movement Definition, Journal of Sociology: Bulletin of Yerevan University, Vol. 12 № 2 (34), 62-75, p.74, DOI 10.46991/BYSU:F/2021.12.2.062

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    Manukyan S., Babakhanyan S. (2022) Political culture and the protest potential in Goris community, Journal of Sociology, Vol. 13 No. 2 (36)10-23, DOI 10.46991/BYSU:F/2022.13.2.010

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Sociology of Communications

  • Sociology of Communications

    The Online and Offline Communication Preferences of Armenian Social Network Users

    Anrieta Karapetyan, Sean Gardner
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    Abstract

    Online is one of the main types of communication and relationship building. Social networking site users are increasing day by day, not only in Armenia but worldwide. Currently, debates are actively underway about the impact of online communication on offline communication. Are online and offline communications two complementary means, or does one completely replace the other? "If people stay at home and do their daily activities without engaging with others, they will not put in the effort to establish social connections beyond the online world, as it would seem futile." The article explores the prevalence of social networks among Armenian users, their variations, online and/or offline communication preferences of Armenian users in various spheres of life, connected with age, gender, and depending on the subject of communication. As a result of a survey conducted using questionnaires, a range of preferences were identified, based on which users construct online communications. The main differences were observed among different age groups, rather than gender.

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  • Sociology of Communications

    An Investigation into the Frequency and Patterns of Science Reporting in Three Leading Online Nigerian Newspapers from 2016-2022

    Jimme Matyek, Dongvel Dorothy Maimoko, Thomas Odoh Ochai
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    Abstract

    This study conducts a comprehensive seven-year analysis of science reporting in three prominent Nigerian online newspapers: Vanguard, Daily Sun, and Punch, spanning from 2016 to 2022. Research conducted before has shown that science journalists in Africa face difficulties. These challenges include editors who do not provide enough support and focus too much on politics, low salaries, and not having enough resources to do their work effectively. They also face criticism from scientists for perceived shortcomings in education, interview preparation, reporting accuracy, and ethical concerns regarding payment for information. In view of this, the problem of this study is the need to understand and analyze the frequency and patterns of science reporting in Nigerian newspapers, specifically in Vanguard, Daily Sun, and The Punch, from 2016 to 2022. Utilizing descriptive research methods, the research scrutinizes the frequency of science reports and their percentage relative to general reports in each newspaper. The findings reveal variations among the newspapers, with Vanguard consistently featuring the highest number of science reports. Noteworthy fluctuations are observed from year to year, indicating potential shifts in editorial priorities or public interest in science-related topics. The study underscores the importance of enhancing science reporting efforts in online newspapers to foster scientific literacy and awareness among readers. It emphasizes the necessity of adapting reporting trends to align with evolving public interests and scientific advancements.

    References

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    Adeniran, R., & Adenle, G. O. (2012). Science news reportage in selected Nigerian newspapers. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 4(1), 169–176.

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  • Sociology of Communications

    Studying Breastfeeding Discourse in Armenia: A Sociological Insight

    Lilit Babayan
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    Abstract

    This paper discusses the role of the societal discourse in the construction of breastfeeding practices. It argues that societal discourse is crucial to the constitution of those practices, and that understanding the underlying circumstances of the breastfeeding situation anywhere in the world requires looking not only at the social reality itself but at the discourse that represents, reflects and constructs it. Proposing Armenia as a study case, the paper outlines the various sources of modern discursive practices around the feeding of children in Armenia, including pre-industrial customs, soviet political ideology, and modern Western values. Doing so, it proposes a new approach to studying breastfeeding practices through the prism of various discursive influences.

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