Alumni of the University of Tartu currently working at UNDP Armenia. My research interests are public policy, e-governance, participatory budgeting, participatory democracy
The diffusion of Participatory Budgeting (PB) at a local level has attracted the attention of man... more The diffusion of Participatory Budgeting (PB) at a local level has attracted the attention of many researchers. PB has been invented in Porto Alegre, Brazil during the time of redemocratization of Brazil in 1989. Afterwards, it has been diffused globally and currently it exists in almost all continents. The diffusion of policies and social innovation is quite widespread and one policy can be applied to various kinds of contexts which, in their turn, can be quite different from each other. The current study explores the diffusion of PB at a local level, how it travels around the world and more specifically, how, why and with what results it was adopted in the city of Tartu in Estonia. The main aim of the thesis is to understand what drove the adoption of PB in Tartu and whether the expectations of city government and NGO from PB enactment have been met or not. The theoretical framework of the thesis is built on the existing literature about PB diffusion drivers around the world, star...
Participatory Budgeting as a Social Innovation: Motives and Outcomes of Enactment /Based on the example of the city of Tartu/, 2019
The diffusion of Participatory Budgeting (PB) at the local level has attracted the attention of m... more The diffusion of Participatory Budgeting (PB) at the local level has attracted the attention of many researchers, because it is so well-suited as a tool for new democracies to prove their intention to bring about participatory democracy, reform, and social change. PB was invented in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 1989, during a time of re-democratization, and it has been diffused globally, currently existing in almost all continents. This study explores the diffusion of PB at the local level, how it travels around the world, more specifically, how, why and with what results it was adopted in the city of Tartu, Estonia. The main aim of this study is to understand the motives of PB adoption in Tartu and whether the expectations from this initiative have been met or not. A basic assumption of this study was that Tartu city government adopted PB for gaining popularity and votes, as well as for increasing levels of citizen participation and awareness. Qualitative methods of analysis were used to conduct this research, relying on elite interviews with employees of Tartu city government and e-Governance Academy as the primary sources of empirical information. Examining the case of Tartu has brought new to the field of PB implementation. The study demonstrates that PB enactment in Tartu was the result of cooperation between the NGO and the city government, both having the same incentives and expectations from the initiative. The main incentives of PB implementation in Tartu were citizen Journal of Global Development and Security Studies Eurasia International University 91 education about the city budget and citizen engagement. The results of this research indicate that the case of Tartu corresponds to the previously existing theories of citizen engagement and citizen education on budgeting processes, and some of the expectations of the research have been met (citizen engagement and awareness), whereas the expectation that city government adopted PB for the reason of gaining votes and popularity was not supported. In sum, this study contributes to the field of PB diffusion at a local level, and its results can be applied both in and outside of Estonia to other cases of PB enactment.
The diffusion of Participatory Budgeting (PB) at the local level has attracted the attention of m... more The diffusion of Participatory Budgeting (PB) at the local level has attracted the attention of many researchers because it perfectly served as a tool for especially new democracies (for example, Porto Alegre, Brazil in the '80s) to prove their intentions of bringing changes in the lives of the citizens and take into account their opinions. PB was invented in Porto Alegre, Brazil during the time of re-democratization of Brazil in 1989 and it has been diffused globally, and currently, it exists in almost all continents. This study explores the diffusion of PB at the local level, how it travels around the world, more specifically, how, why and with what results it was adopted in the city of Tartu. Estonia. The main aim of this study is to understand the motives of PB adoption in Tartu and whether the expectations from this initiative have been met or not. The expectations of this study were that the Tartu city government adopted PB for gaining more popularity and votes, as well as for increasing levels of citizen participation and awareness. Qualitative methods of analysis were used to conduct the research, relying on elite interviews with employees of Tartu city government and e-Governance Academy as the primary source of empirical information. The research has brought new and additional knowledge in the field of PB implementation, the main incentives and overall results, examining the case of Tartu. The study demonstrates that PB enactment in Tartu was the result of cooperation between NGO and the city government, both having the same incentives and expectations from the initiative. The main incentives of PB implementation in Tartu were citizen education about the city budget and citizen engagement. As a result of the research, it turned out that the case of Tartu corresponds to the previously existing theories of citizen engagement and citizen education on budgeting processes, and some of the expectations of the research have been met (citizen engagement and awareness) whereas the expectation that city government adopted PB for the reason of gaining votes and popularity was not supported. In sum, this study contributes to the field of PB diffusion at a local level, and its results can be applied both in and outside of Estonia for understanding the objectives and already existing results of PB enactment.
Interview With Vello Pettai, Professor of Comparative Politics: By Meline Avagyan , 2017
As a student who has studied in different environments and universities, I have always faced situ... more As a student who has studied in different environments and universities, I have always faced situations where sensitive (e.g. international conflicts) topics in class personally affect some students and is quite hard to open a civil discussion on those topics. This interview is with one of the best professors and researchers, professor of Comparative Politics, programme director for Democracy and Governance, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies, Vello Pettai. Within the framework of the Democracy and Governance programme, Dr. Pettai currently teaches Ethnopolitics to students from all over the world including students from the Caucasus: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey., and the interview seeks to find out his experiences on teaching sensitive topics in international class.
The present paper is a collection of official announcements/press releases of 50 countries and 4 ... more The present paper is a collection of official announcements/press releases of 50 countries and 4 international/supranational organizations during the 44-day war between Azerbaijan and Armenian forces over the unrecognized Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh, NK) in 2020 (September 27- November 9). This paper aims to find out the stance of governments/organizations during the war according to announcements they have made through official channels of communication. As the language used by governments is quite important for understanding the politics in general, this analysis is useful at least in terms of what has been said publicly not behind the closed doors. However, it is understandable that this does not reveal the reality in its full scale, rather a small contribution to building that reality. In order to analyze the data, thematic analysis (TA) method has been used, which is a process of segmentation, categorization, and relinking of aspects of data before the interpretation (Grbich 2007:16)
Many governments currently turn their services into electronic ones to be able to provide
servic... more Many governments currently turn their services into electronic ones to be able to provide services that are more efficient, transparent, and diverse in using government services and go hand in hand with the demand of the 21st century. Armenia is among the countries which adopted policies for the implementation and development of e-governance in state institutions. It actively started the e-governance practices in the 2000s (though the digitalization process itself started in the 1990s), and at this moment, many of the state services are offered via electronic tools. Moreover, taking into account that there are many pitfalls in the implementation of the egovernance in the state sector (such as the fact that various institutions are at different levels of e-governance implementation), the government adopted the new digitalization policy, which has the goal of creating effective, transparent, data-based governance, as well creation of a workforce with digital skills, ready for the digital economy. One of the cornerstones of the e-governance implementation is whether it is effective or not, and this study will explore the exact way state employees conceptualize e-governance tools implementation effectiveness in various ministries. In addition to this, the research will also explore the main advantages and disadvantages of these tools to understand what needs to be done to improve the e-governance practices of the state. The study starts with the literature review and background information on the topic, with conceptualizations and research questions. Then the methodology of this study is presented, continuing with the findings (with subsections) and conclusion.
In the scope of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the European ... more In the scope of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the European Union and Armenia, the latter has certain obligations on approximating its legislation with the EU acquis. Among the required acts to be harmonized, is the Directive 2006/54/EC on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in the matters of employment and occupation. The research conducted within the Jean Monnet “Legal approximation laboratory” seeks to assess the compliance of national legislation and practice with the above-mentioned Directive. The topicality of the issue is conditioned by many gender inequality cases still taking place in the area of employment and occupation in Armenian society. This is conditioned by a lack of certain mechanisms to appropriately solve conflicts at work and address in a proper manner human rights violation in the area of gender equality.
The paper includes a compliance check analysis of Armenian legislation in the light of Directive 2006/54/EC, evaluation of relevant public policies and implemented practices, as well as the elaboration of recommendations concerning the possible mechanisms of a more successful approximation of Armenian legislation with the said Directive. Qualitative research methods have been used for gathering the data. Apart from the desk research and analysis of legal documents, the fieldwork included in-depth interviews using purposive sampling with the Members of the Parliament and relevant experts from the Ministries of Justice and Labor and Social Affairs, Human Rights Defender’s Office, Health and Labor Inspection Body, as well as relevant NGOs working in the area. An online survey was also conducted, to assess the general public awareness on the issue and identify shortcomings that negatively affect the efficiency of enforcement mechanisms. In order to analyze the data, thematic analysis (which is a process of segmentation, categorization, and relinking of aspects of data before the interpretation) qualitative data analysis has been used.
It has been concluded that the Armenian legislation (considering also the Draft Law of the RA on Ensuring Equality Before the Law) is mainly in compliance with the Directive 2006/54, however, several essential amendments to the existing legislation are required. For example, some definitions provided in the legislative acts are not inclusive and/or clearly defined, which creates uncertainty. Moreover, despite legislative developments, some violations are not recognized as separate offenses and criminal or civil liability is not provided. Another problem is a legal collision, which is especially problematic in the area of sanctions and penalties. The research paper provides recommendations which can be useful for policy makers, NGOs, and experts involved in policy advocacies, researchers doing policy analysis as well as the wider public interested in the topic. The study contributes to the broader discussion on the legal framework of gender equality at work in Armenia and the approximation process of the relevant legislation envisioned by the CEPA.
The diffusion of Participatory Budgeting (PB) at a local level has attracted the attention of man... more The diffusion of Participatory Budgeting (PB) at a local level has attracted the attention of many researchers. PB has been invented in Porto Alegre, Brazil during the time of redemocratization of Brazil in 1989. Afterwards, it has been diffused globally and currently it exists in almost all continents. The diffusion of policies and social innovation is quite widespread and one policy can be applied to various kinds of contexts which, in their turn, can be quite different from each other. The current study explores the diffusion of PB at a local level, how it travels around the world and more specifically, how, why and with what results it was adopted in the city of Tartu in Estonia. The main aim of the thesis is to understand what drove the adoption of PB in Tartu and whether the expectations of city government and NGO from PB enactment have been met or not. The theoretical framework of the thesis is built on the existing literature about PB diffusion drivers around the world, star...
Participatory Budgeting as a Social Innovation: Motives and Outcomes of Enactment /Based on the example of the city of Tartu/, 2019
The diffusion of Participatory Budgeting (PB) at the local level has attracted the attention of m... more The diffusion of Participatory Budgeting (PB) at the local level has attracted the attention of many researchers, because it is so well-suited as a tool for new democracies to prove their intention to bring about participatory democracy, reform, and social change. PB was invented in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 1989, during a time of re-democratization, and it has been diffused globally, currently existing in almost all continents. This study explores the diffusion of PB at the local level, how it travels around the world, more specifically, how, why and with what results it was adopted in the city of Tartu, Estonia. The main aim of this study is to understand the motives of PB adoption in Tartu and whether the expectations from this initiative have been met or not. A basic assumption of this study was that Tartu city government adopted PB for gaining popularity and votes, as well as for increasing levels of citizen participation and awareness. Qualitative methods of analysis were used to conduct this research, relying on elite interviews with employees of Tartu city government and e-Governance Academy as the primary sources of empirical information. Examining the case of Tartu has brought new to the field of PB implementation. The study demonstrates that PB enactment in Tartu was the result of cooperation between the NGO and the city government, both having the same incentives and expectations from the initiative. The main incentives of PB implementation in Tartu were citizen Journal of Global Development and Security Studies Eurasia International University 91 education about the city budget and citizen engagement. The results of this research indicate that the case of Tartu corresponds to the previously existing theories of citizen engagement and citizen education on budgeting processes, and some of the expectations of the research have been met (citizen engagement and awareness), whereas the expectation that city government adopted PB for the reason of gaining votes and popularity was not supported. In sum, this study contributes to the field of PB diffusion at a local level, and its results can be applied both in and outside of Estonia to other cases of PB enactment.
The diffusion of Participatory Budgeting (PB) at the local level has attracted the attention of m... more The diffusion of Participatory Budgeting (PB) at the local level has attracted the attention of many researchers because it perfectly served as a tool for especially new democracies (for example, Porto Alegre, Brazil in the '80s) to prove their intentions of bringing changes in the lives of the citizens and take into account their opinions. PB was invented in Porto Alegre, Brazil during the time of re-democratization of Brazil in 1989 and it has been diffused globally, and currently, it exists in almost all continents. This study explores the diffusion of PB at the local level, how it travels around the world, more specifically, how, why and with what results it was adopted in the city of Tartu. Estonia. The main aim of this study is to understand the motives of PB adoption in Tartu and whether the expectations from this initiative have been met or not. The expectations of this study were that the Tartu city government adopted PB for gaining more popularity and votes, as well as for increasing levels of citizen participation and awareness. Qualitative methods of analysis were used to conduct the research, relying on elite interviews with employees of Tartu city government and e-Governance Academy as the primary source of empirical information. The research has brought new and additional knowledge in the field of PB implementation, the main incentives and overall results, examining the case of Tartu. The study demonstrates that PB enactment in Tartu was the result of cooperation between NGO and the city government, both having the same incentives and expectations from the initiative. The main incentives of PB implementation in Tartu were citizen education about the city budget and citizen engagement. As a result of the research, it turned out that the case of Tartu corresponds to the previously existing theories of citizen engagement and citizen education on budgeting processes, and some of the expectations of the research have been met (citizen engagement and awareness) whereas the expectation that city government adopted PB for the reason of gaining votes and popularity was not supported. In sum, this study contributes to the field of PB diffusion at a local level, and its results can be applied both in and outside of Estonia for understanding the objectives and already existing results of PB enactment.
Interview With Vello Pettai, Professor of Comparative Politics: By Meline Avagyan , 2017
As a student who has studied in different environments and universities, I have always faced situ... more As a student who has studied in different environments and universities, I have always faced situations where sensitive (e.g. international conflicts) topics in class personally affect some students and is quite hard to open a civil discussion on those topics. This interview is with one of the best professors and researchers, professor of Comparative Politics, programme director for Democracy and Governance, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies, Vello Pettai. Within the framework of the Democracy and Governance programme, Dr. Pettai currently teaches Ethnopolitics to students from all over the world including students from the Caucasus: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey., and the interview seeks to find out his experiences on teaching sensitive topics in international class.
The present paper is a collection of official announcements/press releases of 50 countries and 4 ... more The present paper is a collection of official announcements/press releases of 50 countries and 4 international/supranational organizations during the 44-day war between Azerbaijan and Armenian forces over the unrecognized Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh, NK) in 2020 (September 27- November 9). This paper aims to find out the stance of governments/organizations during the war according to announcements they have made through official channels of communication. As the language used by governments is quite important for understanding the politics in general, this analysis is useful at least in terms of what has been said publicly not behind the closed doors. However, it is understandable that this does not reveal the reality in its full scale, rather a small contribution to building that reality. In order to analyze the data, thematic analysis (TA) method has been used, which is a process of segmentation, categorization, and relinking of aspects of data before the interpretation (Grbich 2007:16)
Many governments currently turn their services into electronic ones to be able to provide
servic... more Many governments currently turn their services into electronic ones to be able to provide services that are more efficient, transparent, and diverse in using government services and go hand in hand with the demand of the 21st century. Armenia is among the countries which adopted policies for the implementation and development of e-governance in state institutions. It actively started the e-governance practices in the 2000s (though the digitalization process itself started in the 1990s), and at this moment, many of the state services are offered via electronic tools. Moreover, taking into account that there are many pitfalls in the implementation of the egovernance in the state sector (such as the fact that various institutions are at different levels of e-governance implementation), the government adopted the new digitalization policy, which has the goal of creating effective, transparent, data-based governance, as well creation of a workforce with digital skills, ready for the digital economy. One of the cornerstones of the e-governance implementation is whether it is effective or not, and this study will explore the exact way state employees conceptualize e-governance tools implementation effectiveness in various ministries. In addition to this, the research will also explore the main advantages and disadvantages of these tools to understand what needs to be done to improve the e-governance practices of the state. The study starts with the literature review and background information on the topic, with conceptualizations and research questions. Then the methodology of this study is presented, continuing with the findings (with subsections) and conclusion.
In the scope of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the European ... more In the scope of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the European Union and Armenia, the latter has certain obligations on approximating its legislation with the EU acquis. Among the required acts to be harmonized, is the Directive 2006/54/EC on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in the matters of employment and occupation. The research conducted within the Jean Monnet “Legal approximation laboratory” seeks to assess the compliance of national legislation and practice with the above-mentioned Directive. The topicality of the issue is conditioned by many gender inequality cases still taking place in the area of employment and occupation in Armenian society. This is conditioned by a lack of certain mechanisms to appropriately solve conflicts at work and address in a proper manner human rights violation in the area of gender equality.
The paper includes a compliance check analysis of Armenian legislation in the light of Directive 2006/54/EC, evaluation of relevant public policies and implemented practices, as well as the elaboration of recommendations concerning the possible mechanisms of a more successful approximation of Armenian legislation with the said Directive. Qualitative research methods have been used for gathering the data. Apart from the desk research and analysis of legal documents, the fieldwork included in-depth interviews using purposive sampling with the Members of the Parliament and relevant experts from the Ministries of Justice and Labor and Social Affairs, Human Rights Defender’s Office, Health and Labor Inspection Body, as well as relevant NGOs working in the area. An online survey was also conducted, to assess the general public awareness on the issue and identify shortcomings that negatively affect the efficiency of enforcement mechanisms. In order to analyze the data, thematic analysis (which is a process of segmentation, categorization, and relinking of aspects of data before the interpretation) qualitative data analysis has been used.
It has been concluded that the Armenian legislation (considering also the Draft Law of the RA on Ensuring Equality Before the Law) is mainly in compliance with the Directive 2006/54, however, several essential amendments to the existing legislation are required. For example, some definitions provided in the legislative acts are not inclusive and/or clearly defined, which creates uncertainty. Moreover, despite legislative developments, some violations are not recognized as separate offenses and criminal or civil liability is not provided. Another problem is a legal collision, which is especially problematic in the area of sanctions and penalties. The research paper provides recommendations which can be useful for policy makers, NGOs, and experts involved in policy advocacies, researchers doing policy analysis as well as the wider public interested in the topic. The study contributes to the broader discussion on the legal framework of gender equality at work in Armenia and the approximation process of the relevant legislation envisioned by the CEPA.
Uploads
Papers by Meline Avagyan
Qualitative methods of analysis were used to conduct this research, relying on elite interviews with employees of Tartu city government and e-Governance Academy as the primary sources of empirical information. Examining the case of Tartu has brought new to the field of PB implementation. The study demonstrates that PB enactment in Tartu was the result of cooperation between the NGO and the city government, both having the same incentives and expectations from the initiative. The main incentives of PB implementation in Tartu were citizen
Journal of Global Development and Security Studies Eurasia International University
91
education about the city budget and citizen engagement. The results of this research indicate that the case of Tartu corresponds to the previously existing theories of citizen engagement and citizen education on budgeting processes, and some of the expectations of the research have been met (citizen engagement and awareness), whereas the expectation that city government adopted PB for the reason of gaining votes and popularity was not supported. In sum, this study contributes to the field of PB diffusion at a local level, and its results can be applied both in and outside of Estonia to other cases of PB enactment.
Talks by Meline Avagyan
This interview is with one of the best professors and researchers, professor of Comparative Politics, programme director for Democracy and Governance, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies, Vello Pettai. Within the framework of the Democracy and Governance programme, Dr. Pettai currently teaches Ethnopolitics to students from all over the world including students from the Caucasus: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey., and the interview seeks to find out his experiences on teaching sensitive topics in international class.
Drafts by Meline Avagyan
governments/organizations during the war according to announcements they have made through official channels of communication. As the language used by governments is quite important for understanding the politics in general, this analysis is useful at least in terms of what has been said publicly not behind the closed doors. However, it is understandable that this does not reveal the reality in its full scale, rather a small contribution to building that reality. In order to analyze the data, thematic analysis (TA) method has been used, which is a process of segmentation, categorization, and relinking of aspects of data before the interpretation (Grbich 2007:16)
services that are more efficient, transparent, and diverse in using government services and go
hand in hand with the demand of the 21st century. Armenia is among the countries which adopted
policies for the implementation and development of e-governance in state institutions. It actively
started the e-governance practices in the 2000s (though the digitalization process itself started in
the 1990s), and at this moment, many of the state services are offered via electronic tools.
Moreover, taking into account that there are many pitfalls in the implementation of the egovernance in the state sector (such as the fact that various institutions are at different levels of
e-governance implementation), the government adopted the new digitalization policy, which has
the goal of creating effective, transparent, data-based governance, as well creation of a workforce
with digital skills, ready for the digital economy. One of the cornerstones of the e-governance
implementation is whether it is effective or not, and this study will explore the exact way state
employees conceptualize e-governance tools implementation effectiveness in various ministries.
In addition to this, the research will also explore the main advantages and disadvantages of these
tools to understand what needs to be done to improve the e-governance practices of the state. The
study starts with the literature review and background information on the topic, with
conceptualizations and research questions. Then the methodology of this study is presented,
continuing with the findings (with subsections) and conclusion.
The paper includes a compliance check analysis of Armenian legislation in the light of Directive 2006/54/EC, evaluation of relevant public policies and implemented practices, as well as the elaboration of recommendations concerning the possible mechanisms of a more successful approximation of Armenian legislation with the said Directive. Qualitative research methods have been used for gathering the data. Apart from the desk research and analysis of legal documents, the fieldwork included in-depth interviews using purposive sampling with the Members of the Parliament and relevant experts from the Ministries of Justice and Labor and Social Affairs, Human Rights Defender’s Office, Health and Labor Inspection Body, as well as relevant NGOs working in the area. An online survey was also conducted, to assess the general public awareness on the issue and identify shortcomings that negatively affect the efficiency of enforcement mechanisms. In order to analyze the data, thematic analysis (which is a process of segmentation, categorization, and relinking of aspects of data before the interpretation) qualitative data analysis has been used.
It has been concluded that the Armenian legislation (considering also the Draft Law of the RA on Ensuring Equality Before the Law) is mainly in compliance with the Directive 2006/54, however, several essential amendments to the existing legislation are required. For example, some definitions provided in the legislative acts are not inclusive and/or clearly defined, which creates uncertainty. Moreover, despite legislative developments, some violations are not recognized as separate offenses and criminal or civil liability is not provided. Another problem is a legal collision, which is especially problematic in the area of sanctions and penalties. The research paper provides recommendations which can be useful for policy makers, NGOs, and experts involved in policy advocacies, researchers doing policy analysis as well as the wider public interested in the topic. The study contributes to the broader discussion on the legal framework of gender equality at work in Armenia and the approximation process of the relevant legislation envisioned by the CEPA.
Qualitative methods of analysis were used to conduct this research, relying on elite interviews with employees of Tartu city government and e-Governance Academy as the primary sources of empirical information. Examining the case of Tartu has brought new to the field of PB implementation. The study demonstrates that PB enactment in Tartu was the result of cooperation between the NGO and the city government, both having the same incentives and expectations from the initiative. The main incentives of PB implementation in Tartu were citizen
Journal of Global Development and Security Studies Eurasia International University
91
education about the city budget and citizen engagement. The results of this research indicate that the case of Tartu corresponds to the previously existing theories of citizen engagement and citizen education on budgeting processes, and some of the expectations of the research have been met (citizen engagement and awareness), whereas the expectation that city government adopted PB for the reason of gaining votes and popularity was not supported. In sum, this study contributes to the field of PB diffusion at a local level, and its results can be applied both in and outside of Estonia to other cases of PB enactment.
This interview is with one of the best professors and researchers, professor of Comparative Politics, programme director for Democracy and Governance, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies, Vello Pettai. Within the framework of the Democracy and Governance programme, Dr. Pettai currently teaches Ethnopolitics to students from all over the world including students from the Caucasus: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey., and the interview seeks to find out his experiences on teaching sensitive topics in international class.
governments/organizations during the war according to announcements they have made through official channels of communication. As the language used by governments is quite important for understanding the politics in general, this analysis is useful at least in terms of what has been said publicly not behind the closed doors. However, it is understandable that this does not reveal the reality in its full scale, rather a small contribution to building that reality. In order to analyze the data, thematic analysis (TA) method has been used, which is a process of segmentation, categorization, and relinking of aspects of data before the interpretation (Grbich 2007:16)
services that are more efficient, transparent, and diverse in using government services and go
hand in hand with the demand of the 21st century. Armenia is among the countries which adopted
policies for the implementation and development of e-governance in state institutions. It actively
started the e-governance practices in the 2000s (though the digitalization process itself started in
the 1990s), and at this moment, many of the state services are offered via electronic tools.
Moreover, taking into account that there are many pitfalls in the implementation of the egovernance in the state sector (such as the fact that various institutions are at different levels of
e-governance implementation), the government adopted the new digitalization policy, which has
the goal of creating effective, transparent, data-based governance, as well creation of a workforce
with digital skills, ready for the digital economy. One of the cornerstones of the e-governance
implementation is whether it is effective or not, and this study will explore the exact way state
employees conceptualize e-governance tools implementation effectiveness in various ministries.
In addition to this, the research will also explore the main advantages and disadvantages of these
tools to understand what needs to be done to improve the e-governance practices of the state. The
study starts with the literature review and background information on the topic, with
conceptualizations and research questions. Then the methodology of this study is presented,
continuing with the findings (with subsections) and conclusion.
The paper includes a compliance check analysis of Armenian legislation in the light of Directive 2006/54/EC, evaluation of relevant public policies and implemented practices, as well as the elaboration of recommendations concerning the possible mechanisms of a more successful approximation of Armenian legislation with the said Directive. Qualitative research methods have been used for gathering the data. Apart from the desk research and analysis of legal documents, the fieldwork included in-depth interviews using purposive sampling with the Members of the Parliament and relevant experts from the Ministries of Justice and Labor and Social Affairs, Human Rights Defender’s Office, Health and Labor Inspection Body, as well as relevant NGOs working in the area. An online survey was also conducted, to assess the general public awareness on the issue and identify shortcomings that negatively affect the efficiency of enforcement mechanisms. In order to analyze the data, thematic analysis (which is a process of segmentation, categorization, and relinking of aspects of data before the interpretation) qualitative data analysis has been used.
It has been concluded that the Armenian legislation (considering also the Draft Law of the RA on Ensuring Equality Before the Law) is mainly in compliance with the Directive 2006/54, however, several essential amendments to the existing legislation are required. For example, some definitions provided in the legislative acts are not inclusive and/or clearly defined, which creates uncertainty. Moreover, despite legislative developments, some violations are not recognized as separate offenses and criminal or civil liability is not provided. Another problem is a legal collision, which is especially problematic in the area of sanctions and penalties. The research paper provides recommendations which can be useful for policy makers, NGOs, and experts involved in policy advocacies, researchers doing policy analysis as well as the wider public interested in the topic. The study contributes to the broader discussion on the legal framework of gender equality at work in Armenia and the approximation process of the relevant legislation envisioned by the CEPA.