The role of digital platforms in the preparation and implementation of “color revolutions” (the case of the “Velvet revolution” in Armenia)

Social networks, video hosting, messengers and other digital platforms have gained huge popularity and have become an integral part of modern society. This has opened up opportunities for disseminating and promoting one’s narratives that have attracted the attention of most state and non-state actors in world politics. The purpose of this article is to study the role of digital platforms in the organization and implementation of the so-called color revolutions. These platforms are actively used by specialists in social engineering to provoke, coordinate, cover and, ultimately, carry out coups using soft power technologies. The article focuses on the analysis of the use of new information and communication tools during the “Velvet revolution” in the Republic of Armenia. While the causes of the Spring 2018 socio–political crisis in Armenia were largely internal, the activities of the opposition led by N.Pashinyan in the virtual space were almost crucial for the success of the lightning operation to overthrow the government of S.Sargsyan. The authors conclude that digital platforms themselves have not been a decisive factor in the victory of “color revolutions”, but proved to be extremely effective tools in the process of dismantling seemingly inviolable political regimes.