TV Presentation of the Book “Comprehensive Security: Armenia’s Alternative in a Changing World” Aired on Armenia TV (Video)

Co-author Gevorg Melikyan, political scientist, founder of The Armenian Institute for Resilience & Statecraft, and PhD in Political Science, shared that the work began as a research paper and later evolved into a comprehensive book.

The authors examine security in all its dimensions, moving beyond the conventional focus on military strength, borders, and physical defense. In today's world, they argue, security is also shaped by education, environmental protection, infrastructure, and even cultural resilience.

“We live under constant informational pressure. In the book, we cite Israel as an example because we spent several months there studying its national security and strategic thinking. Our goal was to understand how a small state surrounded by threats manages to withstand them.”

The book emphasizes that military capability remains a core pillar of security, but must be paired with strategic policy and societal resilience. The authors frame Armenia’s geopolitical reality as a “besieged fortress” scenario, where geographic, energy, and diplomatic constraints demand a proactive and unified national strategy.

“Other countries’ examples, like Israel, Switzerland, and Estonia, are not meant to be copied, but to inspire. We point out how Armenia may have natural advantages, such as geography, yet lacks coordination and strategic thinking. We propose seventeen conceptual recommendations to both government and civil society, including stronger intelligence capabilities, better Diaspora engagement, and the cultivation of critical and strategic thinkers through education.”

At its core, the book argues that a constantly changing world will not become safer on its own. Security must be redefined and actively built, with foresight, coordination, and national will.