threats were rooted in then bipolar structure of the world, today the
main sources o f threats and dangers do not have clear geographic coor-
dinates and, unfortunately, stand outside the sphere o f influence of
States as well as outside moral norms.
The collapse o f the former Soviet Union created conditions for
emergence o f a new geopolitical environment, in which the “third
democratic wave” was widely spread. Gradual break up o f the USSR,
its disappearance from the political map and merging o f the West with
the Eurasian space, which had been, prior to 1991, occupied by the
Soviet State resulted in a collision between the traditionalist and the
technology-based civilizations.
Emergence o f the newly independent States led to the shaping of a
new ideological environment. This established a basis for the transit of
Western ideological constructions such as liberalism, conservatism,
socialism, democratism as well as neo-conservatism and neo-liberal-
ism into the society. As the newly independent States are living through
a period o f transition, each o f the ideological constructions collided
with the intemal traditionalist base inherent in these societies.
The Azerbaijani Idea, a model of ideology, created an intemal
mutual synthesis with the new ideological constructions, which are
being “imported” into the national space. It embodies a centuries-long
tradition o f harmony o f the national life, coexistence o f various confes-
sions and mutual influences from all ethnic groups living in the coun-
try.
The Azerbaijani Idea reflects the commonality o f interests o f the
united poly-ethnic nation in building the Azerbaijani statehood, devel-
oping democracy, liberalizing economy and reaching the level of uni
versal prosperity. As an ideology, it includes socio-cultural and ethno-
geopolitical aspects o f independent Azerbaijan’s philosophical-socio-
logical doctrine and represents an important foundation for mutual
support, cooperation and equality. Therefore, theoretically and politi-
cally, the Azerbaijani Idea and neo-conservatism are closely linked.
From the spatial and geographic perspective, the Azerbaijani Idea is a
national version o f neo-conservatism and an adaptation o f its princi-
Ramiz Mehdiyev. Azərbaycan: qloballaşma dövrünün tələbləri
4 5 6
Abstract
ples and ideas to the specific conditions o f Azerbaijan. Intemally, these
two ideological Systems are cohesive.
Contemporary globalization, a process o f political, economic and
socio-cultural integration, can be seen as a new phase o f intemational-
izing various aspects o f society’s life.
Globalization has brought tangible benefıts to the humanity,
opened prospects for development and accelerated the pace o f history.
Yet, similar to any other colossal process, it also has negative elements,
which are reflected in different forms, including the nihilist ones. The
foremost among them is the increasing gap in living standards between
the rich and poor countries. Weakening barriers between sovereign
States globalization channels social interaction within a society into a
new direction, rigidly restricts national distinctiveness with the frame-
work o f certain worldview. Latently, it destroys priorities o f national
culture and traditions, increases the distance from distinctiveness and
leads to westemization o f a society regardless o f its geography, econ
omy or political system.
Frequently, globalization acquires characteristics o f a unipolar
process although it allows for the existence o f a certain balance o f
power and development o f States on the basis o f national socio-cultur
al and religious-moral values without political pressure and economic
sanctions aimed at reaching geo-strategic objectives o f a group of
States. For many anti-globalists, the global “intervention” o f political
and economic views in the world and “McDonaldsization”
(Westemization) o f eastem societies represents an unequal union in
social terms.
The model o f “modemization without westemization” suggested
by an American political scientist Samuel Huntington, who envisioned
the “clash o f civilizations,” appears to be a more attractive solution to
the problem o f hybrid Westemization of non-Westem societies.
Essentially, it asserts that, while States in transition understand the
objective necessity to reform and to develop their social, political and
economic structures, they refuse to follow the West blindly. On the
contrary, approaching liberalism in a limited context, the States are try-
45 7
ing to use Western technologies to serve traditional Systems of nation-
al, i.e. religious, socio-political and other, values.
Azerbaijan entered the process o f global integration by developing
natural resources and routes to deliver them to world markets as well as
by establishing complex economic interrelations among regional cen-
ters. As a new and, at the same time, a transitional State, Azerbaijan
chose the strategic path of integrating into the world community with
the understanding o f global integration’s historic prospects. Clearly,
globalization is neither conflict-free, nor a linear process. However,
ignoring the realities o f the contemporary world order and not seeking
to achieve maximum benefıts ffom this process would be contrary to the
objectives o f Azerbaijan’s long-term strategy of national development.
To ensure a successful transition, both national traditions and tech
nologies o f more developed countries should be utilized. This version
o f transition can be described as “pursuit,” when the norms and moti-
vations o f the developed societies that are being “pursued” penetrate
the transitional society through the new cultural, political and econom
ic pattems. Such diffusion is latent. With maximum respect to the
existing cultural norms and motivations it changes social mentality.
In the post-Soviet period, our new, independent State faced sever-
al conceptual tasks in developing priorities o f the national foreign pol-
icy. Moreover, the success o f envisioned foreign policy depended on an
adequate implementation of these tasks.
First, a correct assessment o f the country’s new situation and of
its position in the world community was needed. Azerbaijan was to
gradually transform from a State with a planned economy and a com-
mand System o f administration into a democratic, law-based, secular
nation with market economy and civil society. Therefore, foreign
policy had to include all these new elements and to demonstrate
Azerbaijan’s aspiration to start a new phase o f its history.
Second, standing at the cross-roads o f strategic interests of power-
ful neighbors and other even more powerful States, Azerbaijan had to
align its foreign policy taking into consideration, fırst and foremost, its
national interests as well as common interests of the West and East.
Ramiz Mehdiyev. Azərbaycan: qloballaşma dövrünün tələbləri
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4 58
Abstract
Third, the nation’s foreign policy had to become an extension of
the State policy as a whole. Foreign policy needed to be an important
element o f national security and, at the same time, to show
Azerbaijan’s readiness for mutually benefıcial cooperation with all
nations o f the West and East.
In the age of unilateralist views in intemational relations, the
national foreign policy had to consider the specifıc conditions of the
world order, which formed following the collapse o f the USSR.
The Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagomo-Karabakh conflict remains as
the most complex ethno-political confrontation on the post-Socialist
space. In spite of the cease-fıre agreement reached in May o f 1994,
Armenia’s unconstructive position prevents a peaceful settlement o f
the conflict. Armenia, which rejects norms of intemational law, stands
as an aggressor State, a rogue nation condoning terrorism and sepa-
ratism, and a State that grossly violates human rights.
Azerbaijan’s foreign and domestic policies since 1993 have estab-
lished basis for prioritizing the national security strategy. This strategy
can be divided into three fundamental parts: “European orientation,”
“atlanticism,” and the “regional perimeter.”
The Caspian region’s signifıcance is determined by the prospects o f
developing its energy resources. Gradually, economic ambitions pro-
duced geopolitical interests as well. As a result, the Caspian dubbed
“the Great Caspian” has become more than a geographic name. The
future o f the nations o f the region and some other States is linked, either
directly or implicitly with the Caspian oil and gas resources.
Geopolitical and geo-strategic signifıcance o f the Caspian basin
has increased since the signing o f the 30-year agreement to develop the
oil fıelds in the Azerbaijani sector o f the Caspian. The agreement was
signed in September of 1994 between the Republic of Azerbaijan and
major oil companies representing 7 nations. The signing o f the agree
ment on the Main Export Pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan by the
Presidents o f Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkey and
Turkmenistan at the OSCE istanbul Summit in November o f 1999 was
4 5 9
a continuation o f this policy. The signing ceremony was witnessed by
the President o f the United States.
In determining strategic objective to be addressed by the ruling
elite President Heydar Aliyev considered a wide range o f achievements
in the economy, socio-cultural life and foreign policy.
Azerbaijan lived more than 70 years o f the last century under the
Communist economic doctrine. The people o f Azerbaijan paid dearly
for this social experiment. After restoring its statehood and independ-
ence at the end of 1991, the Republic o f Azerbaijan has launched its
own economic policy. The main element o f this policy is building an
economic system based on market mechanisms and diverse economy.
Azerbaijan’s modem economic policy is built around the funda
mental principles o f economic development. These include free market
competition; liberalization of all spheres o f managing economy, i.e.
currency market, trade, banks and fınances; pluralism o f all types o f
property ownership.
Investments into various spheres of industry, increasing the popu-
lation’s income and restructuring o f extemal debt are important com -
ponents o f the economic policy’s success. All o f these new economic
trends contribute to building a strong and effective statehood.
The economic strategy is founded on the vision o f the national
economy’s future and place in the global system. Importantly, the
strategy corresponds to the public preferences. This vision coincides
with free acting market mechanisms, which can enable transition o f the
country into the post-industrial era. Azerbaijan’s national economy
becomes the basis, a launch pad for the economic sectors focused pre-
dominantly on human Capital and technology.
Domestic political developments provide a foundation for a con-
structive dialogue between authorities and the opposition. The opposi-
tion leaders, especially those belonging to its radical and destructive
wing, must realize that, as Azerbaijan enters a new phase of its socio-
political and economic development, the power struggle can be only
conducted by civilized means and methods. This includes dialogue as
Ramiz Mehdiyev. Azərbaycan: qloballaşma dövrünün tələbləri
_______
4 6 0
Abstract
well as developing realistic slogans and attractive socio-economic pro-
grams.
Post-industrial elite creates and builds social infrastructure, which,
on one hand, is transnational and, on the other, is based on a new type
of institutions - flexible social conglomerates. Political scientists
describe the latter as “ambitious corporations,” for they prioritize
socio-political goals over economic ones. In these circumstances old
party structures must transform and improve to reflect new social pri-
orities and changes in society’s mass preferences.
Unrestricted, irresponsible radicalism and pseudo-revolutionary
rhetoric, which ignore long-term objectives o f national development,
are alien to the transformed social priorities. The new, educated gener-
ation does not accept Street politics and passions o f Street rallies. This
underscores the lack o f prospects for the “old,” “national” opposition
unable over the years to modemize and enrich its ideological vision and
views on Azerbaijan’s future with global experience.
For the activists o f the opposition movement the transition from
one political system into another became an extremely painful process.
They failed to accept new intentions and to adequately transform prior
values by transiting into the new political landscape o f the nation.
Therefore, the conflict emerged between the “old” opposition, inca-
pable o f transition into a new era, and the authorities, which have mod-
emization o f the State and the society, development of civil consensus
as their objective.
On October 15, 2003 the Azerbaijani voters demonstrated that they
are fully satisfıed with the political course chosen by the authorities.
Naturally, the authorities had more opportunities to prove that Mr.
ilham Aliyev was the necessary choice to be the President. It is no
secret that, along with his own personal qualities, which have con-
tributed significantly to his popularity, he was helped enormously by
the public’s respect for the former President Heydar Aliyev and the
population’s trust in ilham Aliyev’s ability to lead Azerbaijan towards
prosperity and democratic reforms.
461
President Heydar Aliyev’s legacy proves that political success fol-
lows an optimal model o f power, which allows for resolving even
irreconcilable contradictions, stabilizing societies and mobilizing
national resources. A successful optimal model also restores political
balance o f the elites and the entire society. This period o f establishing
and development o f Azerbaijan’s independent statehood, which can be
rightfully called the era o f Heydar Aliyev, represents a historic and
invaluable heritage. The people o f Azerbaijan should cherish, develop
and pass this heritage from generation to generation.
The process initiated in Azerbaijan in 1993 served as a foundation
for building an independent, civilized and democratic State with civil
society and liberalized economy during the globalization era.
Furthermore, a basis was established for a new political space, which,
in the future, will create conditions for a successful transition into post-
modemity. This is at the core o f the authorities’ course striving for the
effective statehood, which has facilitated political pluralism and devel
opment o f liberal economy.
Ramiz Mehdiyev. Azərbaycan: qloballaşma dövrünün tələbləri
46 2
Oxucuya
.............................................................................................................. 7
Ön s ö z
................................................................................................................
I F ə s i l
SSRİ-nin dağılması: yeni reallıqlar v ə yeni im k a n la r ................... 19
II F ə s i l
Azərbaycanın modernləşdirilməsi: inkişaf yolları
....................... 63
III F ə s i l
Qloballaşma dövründə dövlət və c ə m iy y ə t ...................................121
IV F ə s i l
Müstəqil Azərbaycanın siyasi və iqtisadi strategiyası
.............. 209
V F ə s i l
Hakimiyyət və müxalifət: inkişaf naminə rəqabət .....................287
V I F ə s i l
Demokratiya dövlət və cəmiyyətin inkişafının prioriteti kimi . .363
Biblioqrafiya və qeydlər
...........................................................................
437
Terminlər lüğəti
................................................................................. 448
M üəllif haqqında
........................................................................................
454
Abstract
......................................................................................................
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