Shifting paradigms: the evolution of EU-Armenia cultural policies from independence to the present

This article examines how cultural cooperation has served as both a driver and indicator of Armenia's gradual shift toward European integration since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the independence of Armenia. Through analysis of policy documents, bilateral agreements, and institutional frameworks spanning 1991-2024, the study argues that EU-Armenia cultural relations evolved from humanitarian assistance to a strategic partnership, reflecting Armenia's broader democratization trajectory while revealing the limitations of cultural diplomacy in post-Soviet contexts. During the post-Soviet transition (1991-2000), EU involvement was primarily crisis-driven, focusing on economic aid and helping the collapsed culture system with several projects. The subsequent consolidation period (2000-2018) saw systematic institution-building through the European Neighbourhood Policy, yet progress remained constrained by Armenia's simultaneous commitments to Russia-led integration projects. The “Velvet Revolution” (2018) shifted Armenia’s orientation to European integration. The findings demonstrate how competing geopolitical pressures underline the future of cultural policy development in Armenia.