Sisian

CITY PROFILE

HANNAH SZIROTA

ReCity team member, University of Vienna

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK…

Global urban research repeatedly demonstrates that certain places, groups of people and practices in cities are systematically overlooked. However, this “overlooking” is not a coincidence or mere indifference, but an active process that is shaped by preconceptions, prioritizations and structural power relations.

The concept of so-called “overlooked cities” (Nugraha et al., 2023) draws attention to such urban spaces that are often marginalized in the academic debate - whether due to their size, geopolitical location or economic importance. In this context, the focus is actively placed on small and medium-sized cities. Satterthwaite & Hardoy (1986) already considered what insights could be gained if research interest were to shift from global metropolitan areas to smaller urban centers.

What impact does the current selective attention of research have on urban economies, development strategies and the definition of what is considered “urban”? The examination of cities outside of the “spotlight” makes it possible to question dominant narratives of urban research, to make existing hierarchies visible and to develop new, more decentralized perspectives on urbanism in a global context.

Sisian. Photo: Gayane Mirzoyan/Urbanista

SISIAN‘S PARTICULAR GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION

If you look at the aerial image of the city of Sisian in southern Armenia (see Figure 1), a number of distinctive aspects immediately draw attention: The city lies almost like an oasis surrounded by mountains and grassland in a green valley with a river running through it.

Not recognizable at first glance, but on closer inspection of relevant aerial image data portals, it can be seen that the city is bordered by an abandoned airport and a few vacant-looking industrial buildings. If you increase the radius, you notice that the city is also not located on any major highway and is situated far away from larger cities. Compared to other Armenian cities, Sisian tends to take a back seat, at least geographically.

1. Aerial view of Sisian, 26.09.2025

2. Sisian’s location within Armenia (Google Maps, 2025)

It is located in the southernmost province and, with a population of around 14,000, also lags behind larger cities in the region, such as Goris and Kapan (Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia, 2022). However, Sisian's geopolitical location is special, as it is close to the only road connecting Azerbaijan and its enclave Nakhichevan (Ignatov, 2023).

Since Azerbaijan took over the Nagorno-Karabakh region (Nagorno-Karabakh) and around 100,000 people fled the area in September 2023, the situation between Armenia and its neighbor has been extremely tense. In the midst of this conflict situation, Sisian is faced with the challenge of providing accommodation for a relatively large number of refugees (Vartanyan, 2024).

Geography

Bordered by Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic exclave.
Area - 9 km²
Province Syunik
Municipality Sisian
Population (2022) - 14 297

3. Sisian key figures (Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia, 2022. 76.)

OVERLOOKED IN MULTIPLE WAYS

The city is overlooked in both national and global discourse - a process that is evident in various ways. It receives little attention in the academic and political debate: It does not appear in urban planning studies or political debates, and there are hardly any academic publications, especially in the field of urban studies, with Armenia receiving little attention globally. The national prioritization of other cities is also reflected in the distribution of resources - visible, for example, in the vacant infrastructure and lack of road connections, as the aerial images show (Google Earth, 2025).

Media presence is also sparse: the last articles about Sisian were either from the last activity of the local textile factory in 2013 or from occasional visits by politicians (Armenpress). This lack of attention has not only national but also local repercussions. Within the city itself, social and spatial fragmentation is intensifying, leading to local disregard for groups of people and practices.v Two key factors are shaping this development: Firstly, the demographic changes caused by refugees who, according to reports (Vartanyan, 2024), are living in precarious conditions - a challenge for a city of Sisian's size. Secondly, the industrial vacancy following the loss of the factory as an important employer and the resulting unused potential for urban development. These factors illustrate that the “overlooking” exists on a global, national and local level.

Sisian. Photo: Gayane Mirzoyan/Urbanista

A VARIETY OF SOURCES

The Google search for Sisian illustrates the sparse data availability, at least from the external perspective of a student from Austria with no knowledge of the Armenian language. It also illustrates the interests one is supposed to associate with the city, namely a superficial image based on tourism and history. The further investigation is therefore conducted from a “minor theory” perspective (Robin et al., 2020), which questions dichotomies and criticizes a universal form of “scientific” knowledge. Knowledge is always context-dependent - both temporally and spatially - and the question arises as to who produces knowledge and which forms of it are considered legitimate.

Therefore, not only scientific, but also everyday or non academic sources can be valuable sources of knowledge. With this in mind, I analyzed aerial photographs to identify infrastructure features that fed into the above argument. While few media reports exist, articles were found on Armenian news portals such as Armenpress, from which I was able to gather information on the situation of the refugees. In addition, further exploration via Google Maps led to the Sisian Adult Education Center, which is associated with UNICEF (UNICEF, 2024) and is supported by an international initiative (DVV International, 2024). Interestingly, this was the only source that shed light on the refugee situation directly in connection with Sisian.

4.Google Search on Sisian (Google, 25.09.2025)

GLOBAL AWARENESS?

The experience of being overlooked from “above” makes it clear that changes cannot be initiated from outside - local initiatives are crucial. While a profound break-up of existing power relations in the sense of the “urban majority” (Simone, 2018) hardly seems realistic, cooperation with global actors, such as the Adult Education Center sponsored by UNICEF, could still be pursued. However, it must be questioned in this context: Who produces knowledge, for whom and with whom is research being conducted? Are highly overlooked groups of people such as refugees really included?

Concepts such as “auto-construction” (Simone, 2018) could be relevant here, as they shed light on alternative forms of urban change from a bottom-up perspective. In my opinion, there are more opportunities for change at the local level by encouraging communities to make their own needs known. The social role of infrastructure is central to this: Institutions such as the Education Center act as places of community cohesion and networking. At the same time, industrial vacancies can be considered a reflection of urban status - a lively and used city also has a positive impact on the self-perception and identity of the local population.

In the end, it is about becoming aware of the complex power relations, reflecting on privileges and using them in a targeted manner. The aim is to create spaces in which existing hierarchies are not simply reproduced, but can be questioned and renegotiated.

Sisian. Photo: Gayane Mirzoyan/Urbanista

OPEN QUESTIONS

The case of Sisian raises essential questions for urban development and global urban studies. One such example is the lack of media coverage of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the local media discourse. The problem of overlooked cities thus arises not only locally, but as a structural pattern: how can they gain attention when other issues are considered “more important” in the global context? Nugraha et al. (2023) emphasize the importance of citizens' initiatives and city networks as independent, critical actors who actively campaign against urban inequalities.

These networks not only enable community cohesion, but also open up alternative perspectives on urban development. Such political and social engagements are essential to gain new insights from everyday urban experiences and to question existing hierarchies of urban power. Overlooked cities should not only be seen as peripheral spaces, but as a starting point for a broader reflection on how urban practices and power structures function globally - and how they could be made more equitable.

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