Tag Archives: discourse

DOI: 10.57192/18291864-2026.1-100

THE DISCURSIVE FUNCTIONS OF BIBLICAL INTERTEXT AND THE ESCHATOLOGICAL TURN IN CONTEMPORARY ARMENIAN PROSE (A Case Study of Arpi Voskanyan’s Not for Sale Collection)

In contemporary Armenian prose, biblical intertext functions as a vital mode of expressing the value crisis and as a carrier of cultural memory, manifesting itself through the deconstruction of biblical characters and narratives. In literary studies, this function of biblical intertext is closely connected with eschatological thinking (eschatology), as it enables reflection not only on the idea of the end of the world or of history, but also on the collapse of meaning systems, the crisis of faith, and transformations in value structures. In this sense, eschatology in contemporary literature ceases to be a purely dogmatic or theological concept and is transformed into a textual and metaphorical tool through which shifts in the value systems of the modern world and the modern individual are articulated.

From this perspective, the prose of Arpi Voskanyan is particularly noteworthy, as biblical intertext appears there as a bearer of a cultural narrative that is subjected to critique, distortion, and at times ironic or parodic re-evaluation. The Bible thus functions not as a sacred authority, but as a framework of collective memory through which the changes and distortions present in contemporary life are revealed.

DELIBERATIVE COMMUNICATION AS A CONDITION FOR DEMOCRATISING PUBLIC POLICY IN ARMENIA

With the establishment of the new world order, there is a need to reevaluate the public policy democratization issues to address the challenges and uncertainties of modern political turbulence. The interconnected nature of the uncertainties stemming from contemporary political development crises underscores the necessity of studying deliberative communication to enhance democratization in Armenia. This emphasizes the need to integrate deliberative and participatory democracies to enhance dialogue between the state and civil society. In the RA, a similar approach is essential for preventing internal and external turmoil by establishing mechanisms for the evolutionary modernization of the political system. This will facilitate a shift from revolutionary methods toward a more inclusive democratic transition, focusing on a “transition to consolidation” with ongoing modernization as a strategic goal.

The primary aim is to regard the public interest as the foundation of polyarchic elite activity through the genuine convergence of deliberative and participatory democracy in Armenia and to mitigate information-communication (IC) manipulations. Simultaneously, citizen socialization is justified to avert marginalization and alienation within the public consciousness.

The theoretical and practical significance of this research lies in illuminating the evolutionary modernization of the political system by justifying deliberative communication as a crucial element in the democratization of public policy. The insights derived from this study can be integrated into programs aimed at fostering a “transition-consolidation” democracy in Armenia.

The research findings can facilitate the optimization of interactions between the state authorities and civil society organizations.