The “Lame” Pendulum of Urban Justice: The Struggle for Our Yerevan

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Yerevan, the capital of the newly independent Republic of Armenia, has undergone significant transformation. The transition from a socialist, state-controlled city to a landscape dominated by privatization has redefined the socio-political and economic fabric of urban life. This presentation explores the dynamics of urban justice in Yerevan, focusing on the effects of privatization and the commercialization of public spaces.

Key elements of urban development have fallen under the control of semi-criminal oligarchic groups, tightly connected to the emerging political elite. These processes have led to a significant narrowing of Yerevan's ontological and social dimensions, as economic interests now prevail. Public spaces have been commodified, and large-scale construction projects have replaced the voids of the industrial past with dubious skyscrapers, further alienating ordinary citizens from the urban fabric.

At the same time, citizens themselves have engaged in the opportunistic use of urban spaces, contributing to the fragmentation of the city. This presentation examines the competing regimes of justice at play, focusing on the conflict between the adaptive practices of individuals and the revolutionary ambitions of Yerevan's new political authorities. The latter are attempting to reclaim spaces previously appropriated for private benefit, aiming to redefine urban justice. However, this process has been met with widespread distrust, as the political elite faces a legitimacy crisis.

By analyzing the socio-historical underpinnings and behavioral practices of urban justice across various social groups, this research reveals the paradoxical nature of justice in Yerevan today. The simultaneous pursuit of two conflicting justice regimes—individual adaptive use and state-led re-appropriation—offers unique insights into the evolving urban landscape of post-Soviet Yerevan.