Newmag has published the book “Anatomy of Peacemaking” by Armenian-American peacebuilding expert Hrair Palian in Armenian (trailer)

In his work “Anatomy of Peacemaking: The Karabakh Conflict and Missed Opportunities,” Doctor of Law Hrair Palian presents more than three decades of negotiations, mediation initiatives, and their failures. The book is based on documents, open sources, and exclusive interviews. The author has spoken with former presidents of Armenia, foreign ministers, senior advisors, as well as international mediators and other key actors involved in the process.

The book focuses on the proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group and the political positions formed around them. Palian also examines parallel initiatives by the United States, the European Union, and Russia, showing how the motivations of the parties evolved and what role external actors played.

According to the author, the negotiation process contained fundamental shortcomings. In his assessment, one of the most critical issues lay at the level of the negotiators themselves. The book also addresses the “stage-by-stage” and “package” solutions discussed at various stages, including the 1997 proposals, which, according to Palian, could have significantly altered the course of the process.

Palian further explores contractual limitations that, in his view, influenced Armenia’s actions regarding the Artsakh issue. These observations are grounded in factual analysis and supported by testimonies from participants in the negotiations.

“Anatomy of Peacemaking” is not only a study of the past but also an attempt to understand why a lasting resolution was not achieved. The book outlines key lessons from the negotiation process and identifies the main reasons for failure, without rhetoric or excessive evaluation.

Hrair Palian is an Armenian-American expert who has worked in international organizations, including the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, since the 1990s. He has also held leadership roles at the International Crisis Group and the Carter Center, working across regions from the Balkans to the Middle East and Africa. He has taught at Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology.

The Armenian edition was translated from English and edited by Karen Harutyunyan.

The main partners of the book are the Armenian Communities Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the “Ani and Narod Memorial Foundation.” The presentation of “Anatomy of Peacemaking” is organized by Newmag in partnership with AGBU Armenia (Melik Adamyan 2/2).

The week-long book tour also includes meetings and lectures at the American University of Armenia and Yerevan State University. During his visit, Palian is also giving interviews to various Armenian media outlets, presenting the key ideas of the book and his analysis of the negotiation process.