Patriarchal Politics

EurasiaNet takes a fascinating look at the role the wives of candidates for next week’s presidential election play during the pre-election campaign period. In fact, they rarely play a role at all and not least because despite some signs of increased freedom for women on the surface, Armenia still remains a patriarchal society.

In a traditional, male-dominated society like Armenia, sociologists say, the notion of a candidate’s wife taking part in a campaign remains a risky proposition. “Politics in Armenia is viewed as strictly ‘a man’s business’ and, according to our Armenian mentality, a woman must not interfere with it,” commented Aharon Adibekian, director of the Sociometer polling organization. “By . . . having [their wives] take part in their election campaigns, candidates run the risk of it having a negative impact on their progress, rather than it winning them votes.”

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That view is reflected in other aspects of the country’s political life. More than 52 percent of Armenia’s population of 2.97 million are women, according to state statistics, but, in terms of women’s participation in politics, Armenia ranks last in the South Caucasus. Women comprise 9.2 percent of the members of the country’s 131-seat parliament, compared with 11.3 percent in Azerbaijan and 9.4 percent in Georgia. Only one woman has ever run for president in Armenia — Dignity Party leader Lyudmila Harutiunian in 1998 — but she withdrew from the race well before election day.