Armenia should develop a post-industrial economy
20.07.2018,
10:10
Armenia should develop as a post-industrial economy with its economic elite being under the strict control of the government, says Georgi Derlugian, a professor at the New York University in Abu Dhabi.
YEREVAN, July 20. /ARKA/. Armenia should develop as a post-industrial economy with its economic elite being under the strict control of the government, says Georgi Derlugian, a professor at the New York University in Abu Dhabi.
"As a landlocked country Armenia has few opportunities for what is called natural development and besides it is surrounded by hostile countries. However, it has a huge potential, based, in particular, on a high level labor ethics, a large number of engineers and a low level crime. All this creates excellent opportunities for the development of tourism,’ Derlugian said on Thursday during a discussion on Armenia’s economic future.
According to Derlugyan, Armenia’s most important advantage is the existence of a powerful national state. "It is the state that must strictly control the economic elite and not allow it to relax, as it was in India in the mid-20th century. In addition, external threats can also contribute to the consolidation of forces. This requires a powerful ideology, which in case of Armenia is the inherent nationalism, which in some way is her salvation," he said. Derlugian says another advantage of the country is its vast Diaspora.
"Today it is impossible to say with certainty how many Armenians live in the world. This is an empirical question. As for the language, many Armenians have already forgotten it. The question here is the recognition of one's origin," he said.
According to Derlugian, in order to attract representatives of the Diaspora to their homeland, it is necessary to create appropriate conditions for them, to lure them with benefits, support in the provision of health care, education or recreation. "It is necessary to maneuver, give them what they are interested in," he said.
"A proper personnel policy will strengthen the state, and with it the control over all sectors of the economy and social life, which can give a new development impetus. A vivid example is Singapore, where the Chinese population, in fact, faced with genocide, was able to build a country with powerful economy, "said Derlugian.
However, before the beginning of serious changes, Derlugyan says it is necessary to get free from various fears, as well as from the idea of deprivation.
"I often hear that Armenia has been for a long time and even continues to be under occupation, and has not become an independent state over the last 26 years. Speaking of this, one should remember the examples of West Germany, Japan, Qatar and other countries which are to this day really under occupation and where US bases are deployed. This, however, did not prevent their economic rise,’ Derlugyan said. -0
"As a landlocked country Armenia has few opportunities for what is called natural development and besides it is surrounded by hostile countries. However, it has a huge potential, based, in particular, on a high level labor ethics, a large number of engineers and a low level crime. All this creates excellent opportunities for the development of tourism,’ Derlugian said on Thursday during a discussion on Armenia’s economic future.
According to Derlugyan, Armenia’s most important advantage is the existence of a powerful national state. "It is the state that must strictly control the economic elite and not allow it to relax, as it was in India in the mid-20th century. In addition, external threats can also contribute to the consolidation of forces. This requires a powerful ideology, which in case of Armenia is the inherent nationalism, which in some way is her salvation," he said. Derlugian says another advantage of the country is its vast Diaspora.
"Today it is impossible to say with certainty how many Armenians live in the world. This is an empirical question. As for the language, many Armenians have already forgotten it. The question here is the recognition of one's origin," he said.
According to Derlugian, in order to attract representatives of the Diaspora to their homeland, it is necessary to create appropriate conditions for them, to lure them with benefits, support in the provision of health care, education or recreation. "It is necessary to maneuver, give them what they are interested in," he said.
"A proper personnel policy will strengthen the state, and with it the control over all sectors of the economy and social life, which can give a new development impetus. A vivid example is Singapore, where the Chinese population, in fact, faced with genocide, was able to build a country with powerful economy, "said Derlugian.
However, before the beginning of serious changes, Derlugyan says it is necessary to get free from various fears, as well as from the idea of deprivation.
"I often hear that Armenia has been for a long time and even continues to be under occupation, and has not become an independent state over the last 26 years. Speaking of this, one should remember the examples of West Germany, Japan, Qatar and other countries which are to this day really under occupation and where US bases are deployed. This, however, did not prevent their economic rise,’ Derlugyan said. -0
