Hi! I’m Dr. Karena Avedissian, political analyst and independent researcher.
I have been working on state-society relations, disinformation, and regional security in Eurasia for 15 years. I translate complex political phenomena into actionable insights and bridge academic rigor with practical policy analysis and regional expertise.
About me
My career has included roles with leading institutions such as Harvard University, USC, and the International Institute for Strategic Studies, where I contributed to projects on internet censorship, state-building, and conflict analysis.
My background spans academia, lecturing, consulting, and policy analysis, equipping me with unique insights into complex geopolitical issues. I have also advised local and Western governments on regional developments, and provided geopolitical intelligence to private companies.
Freedom House - Armenia’s Fight Against Disinformation
The COVID-19 pandemic and the 44-Day War in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 have exacerbated the country's vulnerability to disinformation. This policy brief reviews international best practices and offers recommendations to enhance Armenia’s efforts in combating disinformation.
Selected Projects
CREST - Russia and Disinformation: The Case of the Caucasus
That the North Caucasus and Georgia are seen by the Kremlin as areas where it can use, and has used, aggressive military force makes the disinformation deployed there important to understand. This report illustrates how Russia sees the use of strategic influence in its own neighbourhood.
Heinrich Böll Stiftung - Russian Leverage in Armenia
This research report explores Armenia's key dependencies on Russia in trade, energy, and security, evaluating threats to Armenian sovereignty and foreign policy autonomy. The project aims to provide actionable recommendations for mitigating and addressing these dependencies.