About the Author
Authorial Position and Intellectual Scope
The author of the Comprehensive Theory of Self-Determination (CTSD) is Garegin Miskaryan, a public and political thinker, theorist, and institutional designer whose work focuses on the problem of subjectivity of the individual, institutions, and the state under contemporary civilizational conditions.
CTSD was not developed as an academic exercise or an ideological manifesto. It emerged as the result of long-term intellectual work aimed at understanding and addressing the systemic crises confronting modern societies. These crises include the erosion of identity, the decline of autonomous decision-making, institutional hollowing, and the weakening of the capacity of both individuals and states to make internally grounded choices within an increasingly technological environment.
The author’s work integrates philosophical analysis, social and political thought, critical examination of educational models, and the design of institutional architectures. It is this synthesis that formed the foundation for CTSD as an inter-domain, non-reductionist, and methodologically coherent framework.
Why the Comprehensive Theory of Self-Determination Was Developed
CTSD arose from the recognition that in the contemporary world an increasing share of decisions is made without a subject - through algorithms, procedures, external incentives, or short-term efficiency logics. Under these conditions, individuals, institutions, and states gradually lose the capacity to define their own path and to assume responsibility for it.
Existing theoretical and practical models tend either to remain confined to a single domain or to offer ideological solutions that do not withstand the complexity of diverse contexts. CTSD was formulated in response to this gap by proposing a framework that enables the understanding, assessment, and reconfiguration of self-determination across multiple levels without reducing it to a universal formula.
Methodological Foundations
The Comprehensive Theory of Self-Determination is a conceptual and methodological framework. It integrates philosophical, sociological, political, educational, and technological analyses based on domain-oriented thinking. The theory does not seek to replace existing disciplines or political models. Instead, it provides a shared language and structural logic through which subjectivity can be evaluated and restored across different systems.
CTSD does not offer ready-made solutions or action checklists. It proposes a decision architecture that adapts to specific contexts and preserves the internal source of choice regardless of external pressures, technological environments, or institutional constraints.
Scope and Limits of Application
CTSD is not a universal model and does not claim to replace legal, cultural, or institutional particularities. Its application is always context-dependent and requires a careful and responsible approach.
From this perspective, it is essential to emphasize that CTSD is a conceptual and methodological framework whose application is contingent upon institutional, legal, and cultural contexts. The theory cannot and should not be applied mechanically or without a deep understanding of the relevant context.
Authorship, Responsibility, and Use
Responsibility for the conceptual and methodological integrity of the Comprehensive Theory of Self-Determination rests with its author. The theory is open to study, discussion, and academic citation, provided that principles of intellectual property and authorial responsibility are respected.
The applied, institutional, or organizational use of CTSD presupposes separate discussion and agreement. This does not restrict free inquiry, but rather ensures the responsible and coherent application of the theory across different environments.
The website presents the conceptual framework and structural logic of CTSD. The complete academic formulation of the theory is available through separate academic and institutional formats.