Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) regularly hosts numerous events, including symposiums and conferences, dated to the 90th anniversary of the University.
At the initiative of the Chair of Politics and Law History, the third political conference entitled “Political Modernization and Problems of Armenia” was held at the University.
The event was attended by representatives of the Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law of the RA National Academy of Sciences, Academy of Public Administration and Institute for Political and Sociological Consulting (IPSC).
“With the organization of similar conferences the University focuses on the issues that are of interdisciplinary nature.
Today’s conference is timely and actual in the sense that it addresses one of the pressing problems – the theory of modernization,” said Ara Yeremyan, Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs and Postgraduate Studies, Candidate of Legal Sciences and Associate Professor.
Edik Gevorgyan, Dean of the Faculty of History and Jurisprudence, Candidate of Historical Sciences and Associate Professor, said he was glad to see prominent politicians and analysts among the conference participants.
“Political science is a new branch for us which requires a thorough analysis of political developments and processes. I am confident that the conference will open a new charter in thiss field, giving rise to new scientific analyzes and discussions,” he said.
The conference began with the report of Levon Shirinyan, Head of the Chair of Politics and Law History, Doctor of Political Sciences and Professor, who in his comparative analysis entitled “Paradigm of Modernization and Political Processes in Armenia,” dwelt on the two trends of modernization – Westernization and restructuring of the existing base.
Mr Shirinyan stressed that modernization has become ‘a matter of life’ for Armenia.
Contrary to the general belief that modernization is the mechanical transmission of Western and European values, the political analyst says, “Armenians can develop on the basis of the system of values of the Golden Age and Renaissance (X-XII centuries) in the context of the renewed value system of national philosophy and science.
Highlighting the importance of the conference, Levon Shirinyan said it enables the participants to discuss theoretical
issues and draw new conclusions in practice: science develops provided that all opinions on the same issue are collectively considered and agreed upon.
All the 16 reports presented at the conference were devoted to the political modernization and problems in Armenia, with each of them offering new concepts of ‘outcome.’
Hamlet Mikaelyan, Head of the Chair of Mathematics and its Teaching Methods, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and Professor, presented in his report some observations on the modernization of education, viewing it as one of the key components of modernization in Armenia.
The other participants also raised the issue in their reports, presenting the resources of modernization in Armenia, evolution of the value system, institutional obstacles encountered in the process and modern doctrines of the modernization process.
