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This paper examines elite-led domestic factors that pushed Armenian authorities to choose Russian rather than European-led integration path. To make this idea more comprehensive, the paper will focus first on the preconditions and reasons of elite formation in Armenia and then on the role of elite on Armenian economic and political institutions. The institutional framework shaped by elite has great influence not only on domestic policies but also on foreign policy choices. The central conceptual premise of the article is Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson's theoretical concepts of "extractive and inclusive political and economic institutions" developed in their co-authored book "Why Nations Fail: The Origin of Power, Prosperity and Poverty". The existence of extractive economic and political institutions in Armenia is not a spontaneous phenomenon, but they are rooted in post-Soviet history of Armenia and particularly in post-Nagorno Karabakh war political processes. Finally, the paper will argue that the institutional preferences of ruling elite can be used by external powers to export the values (authoritarian or democratic) to which they adhere. Eventually, this is one of cornerstone factors that, on the one hand, can explain the problems and challenges that the EU faced while supporting and disseminating democratic values in Armenia, and, on the other hand, Russia's assertive foreign policy towards Armenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the challenges that Armenia faces in choosing between European and Eurasian integration projects. The EU and Russia-led Eurasian integration processes provide new framework to analyze Armenia's integration choice through the small states theory. Particularly, the paper tries to conduct discussion on the key political factors that were behind the decision of President Serzh Sargsyan to join Russian led Customs Union and to take part in the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. The article attempts to address the possible impacts of Ukrainian crisis on Armenia's elite perception of regional security and reasons of the absence of Maidan scenario in Yerevan. In addition, the article takes into consideration the factor of Armenian Diaspora in Russia in explaining Armenia's intention to join the Customs Union. For this case a useful perspective comes from cultural studies, par excellence Gramsci's concept of hegemony, and one from International political economy, particularly neo-Gramscianism. This comprehensive perspective allows us better understand Armenia's problems and prospects on the way to its aspirations of integration with the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the processes of overcoming Russian 'colonial' impediments to the creation of symbolic spaces for the emergence of a new national selfconsciousness in Kazakhstan. The paper highlights the importance of Nazarbaev's decision to transfer to and construct a new capital Astana in fostering the ideas of national identity and ethnic belonging. Therefore, an attempt has been made to observe the phenomena of urbanization and reformulation of state symbols in explaining both ethnic and civic mechanisms of influences on people's consciousness. Additionally, the works of various Kazakh intellectuals and cultural figures have been taken into consideration to examine the notion of Kazakhness and its' contribution to the development of the Kazakh national identity. Content analysis of architectural design of Astana and state symbols is essential to understand the vision of Kazakhstan's imagined future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]