CIVILNET

CIVILNET

CivilNet is an independent online media platform covering culture, politics, and business, committed to advancing Armenia’s democratic and economic growth.

  1. Why Peace Failed: Hrair Balian’s Anatomy of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

    9 HR AGO

    Why Peace Failed: Hrair Balian’s Anatomy of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

    By Karen Harutyunyan Palgrave Macmillan has published Hrair Balian’s substantial volume Anatomy of Peacemaking: Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict and Missed Opportunities. Newmag is expected to release the Armenian edition of the book soon. Balian brings decades of experience in conflict resolution across various regions of the world, and in this work he successfully combines his practical knowledge with academic methodology through meticulous source comparison, comparative reconstruction of different phases of negotiations, and parallel reading of legal and political arguments within international frameworks. The book presents the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict not only within its own historical and political context, but also alongside other international conflicts, revealing both structural similarities and distinctive characteristics. The study is heavily document-based and often resembles a diplomatic chronicle, examining negotiations that lasted more than three decades. It is perhaps the first work to consolidate nearly the entire accessible documentary record of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Yet Balian does not limit himself to presenting archival material or retelling familiar political episodes. He places them within a broader framework of comparative conflict analysis, international law, and the interaction of major powers’ political calculations. A particularly notable aspect of the book is its use of negotiation theory, especially the concept of BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement). This provides a useful lens for understanding how the conflicting sides assessed their options beyond the negotiating table.

    14 min

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CivilNet is an independent online media platform covering culture, politics, and business, committed to advancing Armenia’s democratic and economic growth.

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