The key actors in Armenia's public and political life have become representatives of the so-called "civil society" before the regime change in 2018, a term that even members of the incumbent government are now hesitant to call a "revolution." This shift occurred because both ruling and opposition political parties, along with individual politicians, no longer enjoyed the public's trust.

Prior to 2018, Armenia's political system was already discredited. With widespread public skepticism regarding free and fair elections, it was difficult to expect positive attitudes toward political parties. If the public firmly believed that changing the government through elections was impossible, what purpose did political parties serve then?

Into this void stepped representatives of non-governmental organizations, human rights advocates, and environmental activists. Not coincidentally, the party that ultimately rose to power, initially formed from grassroots efforts, was named "Civil Contract."

The concept of "civil society" is rooted in principles such as neutrality and advocacy without political partisanship, serving society independently of government control and avoiding double standards. True civil society should remain impartial and unbiased, supporting specific issues or vulnerable groups without transforming into a political entity.

Beyond the fact that many of these groups were funded by Western grants, leading to certain external obligations, a more fundamental issue emerged. According to standard political science and social science definitions, civil society is a community of citizens separated from the mechanisms of power, protected from direct government intervention, arbitrary regulations, and undue political or corporate influence. In essence, civil society should represent public interests and values before the government.

In 2018, however, an inevitable shift occurred: the empty political arena began to be populated by "civil society" figures. This transition violated the core principles of civil society. Human rights advocates, environmental activists, and various rights defenders became ministers, MPs, and local leaders—some of whom acted with more corruption and disregard for rule of law than their predecessors.

As a result, Armenia’s political system now resembles its pre-2018 state, and the concept of "civil society" has been severely discredited. This crisis is not only political but also social and moral, exposing deeper issues within the nation’s values.