Hayk’s Arrow · Armenian Strategic Center
Armenia’s Foreign and Security Policy
Online course taught in Armenian. Start date to be announced.
Start date to be announced
Foreign policy priorities, security challenges, and strategic choices. The schedule will be announced separately. Registration is not open.
About the course
Examine the choices facing Armenia. Explore how national interests, neighbouring states, external partners and domestic capabilities shape foreign policy and security.
Who it is for
For students, young professionals and anyone interested in Armenia’s international position. Basic familiarity with international affairs is helpful; another Academy course is not required.
What you will learn
- Identify Armenia’s foreign-policy and security interests.
- Explain geographic, institutional and domestic constraints.
- Assess relationships with neighbours and external partners.
- Compare policy options and distinguish commitments from expectations.
Weekly programme
Week 1Armenia’s interests and strategic environment
Sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and development; geography and vulnerabilities; state institutions and domestic debate; priorities and resources.
Practical exercise
Build an interests-and-constraints map for Armenia.
Week 2Neighbours, borders and regional relations
Relations with Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia and Iran; negotiations and normalisation; borders, transport links and sovereignty; implementation and trust.
Practical exercise
Assess a hypothetical connectivity proposal: benefits, risks, safeguards and implementation requirements.
Week 3External partners and security instruments
Russia, the EU, the United States and other partners; alliances and commitments; defence cooperation and diplomacy; diversification; information integrity, cyber risks and diaspora engagement.
Practical exercise
Evaluate a proposed partnership through its commitments, capabilities, costs, reliability and limitations.
Week 4Comparing Armenia’s policy options
Objectives and policy instruments; trade-offs and sequencing; implementation capacity; regional scenarios; indicators and uncertainty.
Practical exercise
Compare two policy options and discuss the strongest argument against your preferred option.
How learning works
Four weeks, with one two-hour live Zoom session each week, 20:00–22:00 Armenia time (UTC+4). The day will be announced. Teaching is in Armenian. Sessions combine teaching, a short break, case discussion and practical work. Selected reading materials are provided.
Final assignment and feedback
A 600–800-word policy brief defining a problem and Armenia’s objective, comparing two options and recommending an approach with evidence, risks and conditions for reconsideration. Individual written feedback is included.
Instructor
Giorgi Tumasyan is an author and researcher whose work focuses on international relations and security in Armenia, Georgia and the wider South Caucasus.
Meet the instructor