Armenia and Azerbaijan on the crossroad of "Neither Peace nor War"
For eleven years now two neighboring states, Armenia and Azerbaijan , have been in a situation between
peace and war; the Bishkek protocol established a truce, but peace between the two countries has not
been established. What steps will the countries take now, finding themselves at a crossroads of "no
peace, no war"?
Unique material on how the stereotypes of the image of the enemy and the partner are propagandized
in the two conflicting countries, on how the citizens of these countries live, how they treat each other
and the surrounding world has been compiled in this book. The analysis of the results of monitoring a
number of media outlets in Armenia and Azerbaijan as well as the results of surveys carried out among
the inhabitants of both countries creates an amazing picture of the complicated processes taking place
today in two neighboring states in the South Caucasus.
To provide a wider picture of today's realities, the authors of the research have chosen to include-
in addition to the specific results of the monitoring and the survey - an analytical article, and material
from a bilateral discussion that took place in an online conference dedicated to the problems of partnership
and hostility, i.e. of peace and war. Also, to complete the general picture of the problem, a joint documentary
film has been made based on the material presented in this book.
As we were conducting this research and implementing the project as a whole, the parties-partners
were well aware, of course, that this step alone could do little to stop the ever- increasing process
of alienation of the societies of the two countries from each other. However, we hoped that the general
picture presented in the book might encourage people to take a sober look at the processes and to understand
that irrespective of who bears greater responsibility for this alienation, it is equally reflected on
each of the parties, for neither animosity nor partnership can take place without the involvement of
both of the parties.
Leaving to our readers the right to their own perception of its contents, we would only like to note
that this book is further confirmation of how fragile the present peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan
is, and that many joint efforts are still necessary to eradicate the hatred and the hostility that exists
between the two peoples. Those rare positive appraisals that nevertheless appear in statements by respondents
in defiance of the negative stereotypes in the media of both countries give rise to a degree of optimism.
We invite our readers to acquaint themselves with the material presented in this book and to draw
their own conclusions.
