Paper abstract:

This study examines the non-violent revolutionary regime transition that occurred in Armenia. This transition is analyzed in the context of the post-Soviet regime transformations, whereby the ruling elites succeeded in regaining political office right after revolutionary social movements in all circumstances, except the Armenian case. The main research objective of this study is to explain why the social movement in Armenia resulted in the breakdown of the authoritarian regime despite its well-established ruling party, stable political party system, a strong state, cohesive elite, coercive apparatuses, unity in national identity, clerical backing, and external support. The project underlines the importance of the authority gap and political actors' expectations regarding the authoritarian breakdown.