National values and european values

As the world space of democracy broadens, and comes closer to our borders, we, conscious of the inevitability of the meeting with the "new civilization", ask ourselves more often: "what are those moral values that govern social life in Western democracies?" How do those people live? How those values and lifestyles are similar and how are different from ours? And the main thing that interests us - will we need to sacrifice something of our own, to become a "European democracy"? Wouldn"t, for instance, an Azerbaijani family get ruined from such a clash of civilizations?

In our public debates, the concepts of patriarchal values, "National values", "Islamic or Christian values", "Universal human values" are used often, and today, in increasing frequency, we hear about the "European values", the ones, that we, kind of share, but are scared to fully adopt.

FROM PATRIARCHIAL VALUES TO HUMAN RIGHTS

Moral values - are the rules of human behavior in the society, allowing that society to avoid internal conflicts and develop. These rules started developing from the very rise of the civilization; they originated far back in the local patriarchal communities, and the process of their formation must ultimately be completed in the establishment of values, which most fully assert the rights of every individual member of the global community. (If this happens, the world is very likely to unite in one civilization).

Today we often hear about "universal human values" - a set of moral principles recognized by all cultures at all times. (By the way, the term was introduced into use by Mikhail Gorbachev ("общечеловеческие ценности"), as opposed to "proletarian" or "class" values).

The main and the oldest "universal" moral principle is the "Golden Rule of the Peace": "Treat others as you would like to be treated." This rule is recognized by almost all cultures. (I am writing - "almost", because the history has examples of cultures, that reject the "Golden Rule" and recognize such principles as - "bacarana baş qurban" (az. - "the winner is always right", or "the goal justifies the means").

The ancient authors wrote a lot about the moral values. They considered such human qualities (Aristotle - "ethical virtues") as courage, prudence, honesty, kindness, justice, - the moral values...

"The Ten Commandments" of the prophet Moses (6000 years ago) can be considered as one of the first codes of moral values in the history - Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, honor your parents, do not commit adultery, etc., which are common also to the Christian and Muslim Culture.

Christian values enshrined in the "Sermon on the Mount" of the Jesus added to the "Ten Commandments of Moses", such values as non-resistance to evil, boundless compassion, sincerity, love for enemies and persecutors of your own.

Islamic values embodied by the Prophet Mohammed in Koran, for the first time in human history have entered into a legal provision such fundamental rights as the legal equality among people (among Muslims), freedom of choice and conscience, right to personal security and sanctity of the home, social protection of the poor, and greatly expanded women"s rights in the family and society.

Recall that the Antique gods did not almost posses moral merits - like mere mortals they were greedy, power-hungry and lustful. You could very well bribe the Antique god to please him, when with God of the Jews, Christians and Muslims that was impossible. Allah"s favor could have been earned only by good deeds for other people, which was a significant step forward in the development of moral values.

However, the values of all three monotheistic religions did not impose full equality between people: slavery was permitted, the woman was in a subordinate position, and representatives of other religions were considered second-class.

PATRIARCHIAL AND AZERBAIJANI NATIONAL VALUES

The Azerbaijani national values were formed in the Middle Ages and, evidently, haven"t changed much since then. Core set of moral rules, which are often referred to, as the Turkic-Islamic values of Azerbaijanis, formed under the decisive influence of the medieval Turkic military-feudal code of honor, which can be found in the great epics of the Turks "Dede Gorgud (XI c.) Or" Koroglu (XVI c.):

- all or nothing;

- valor - is greater than benefit;

- defeat - is worse than death;

- asking for help - a shameful thing;

- impulses of the soul in any direction are acceptable.

- thrift - is stinginess,

- caution - is cowardice

- guest - is godsend,

- keep your word,

- family - is sacred,

- honor of women - is inviolable.

(Note that at the time, Azerbaijani values didn"t differ much from the values of, say, the ancient Germans and Celts. In the Turkic epic of Dede Gorgud, we see the heroine, equally fighting the handsome stranger with the sword in her hand; and almost the same type of romantic relationship we can find in the old German epic poem "The Song of the Nibelungs").

The great influence on our national values had Islam, which demanded control over emotions, constant reflection and focus on oneself... And, most importantly, human rights, enshrined in the Koran, and then in the Islamic legislation, carry a huge progressive contribution to the formation of morals of Azerbaijanis.

Unfortunately, authoritarian values, deeply rooted in our country, are dominant in our consciousness to this day: a good illustration of these values is a known proverb "Haqq olmayan yerdə otur, ağsaqqal olmayan yerdə oturma". (You can live somewhere where there"s no justice, but you can"t live somewhere where there"s no authority (no order)). Since those ancient times, when the proverb was created, we live with the authority, and without justice.

(I have long sought in Azerbaijani folklore some democratic proverbs, but found only this - "Osturanla buyuran yorulmaz!" (Breaking winds and issuing orders do not make you tired). My search continues).

So, we come to a disappointing conclusion that our current moral values are more properly to be called not "national", but "archaic" or "patriarchal" and they are not adequate to requirements of the modern times.

I do not want to be overly critical and, therefore, propose that each of us make our own conclusion - which basic moral rule prevails today in Azerbaijan: " Treat others as you would like to be treated" or "bacarana baş qurban" ("the winner is always right", or "the goal justifies the means"

Either way, it is obvious that the values that we follow today, have not yet allowed us to protect our lands, nor build a fair and efficient society.

EUROPEAN VALUES

For a long time the value of monotheistic religions were almost duplicative - between Christian and Muslim values in the Middle Ages there was no big difference. However, in the late Middle Ages the situation began to change. Europe began to develop in unprecedented, in the history, pace, showing achievements and the value of such social processes and mass movements as:

- "Renaissance" -, which adopted the ancient view on the value and beauty of human nature, humanity and the uniqueness of human personality;

- "Reformation" - separation of the moral side of religion from superstitions and religious obscurantism;

- "Secularism" - separation of the Church and the State.

- "Enlightenment" - rationalism, boundless faith in the power of the mind and the benefits of education, establishment of the priority of practices, not the authority in perception of the reality;

- "Individualism" (as the opposition of commonality and commonness) - knowing your personal benefits and rights, striving for your own benefit, and demanding to fulfill your rights.

- "Human Rights" - existence of innate (and not just acquired) dignity and rights for every human, and the inalienability of those rights and dignity.

- "Liberalism" - the superiority of basic human rights over the interests of society and the State.

- "The Ethics of Capitalism "- hard work, systematic, painstaking and selfless work, pragmatism, economy, peaceful competition, "the value of time" - the life in a strict and tight schedule.

- The "democratic revolutions" - freedom, equality, fraternity, the right to resist the violence, the right to property, not being managed, but self-governed and constitute oneself, not being a subject, but being a citizen.

- "Social Democracy" - awareness of the need to maintain society as a whole and help to its weakest members.

- "Pacifism" - condemnation of violence and wars.

- "The right to self-expression" and affirmation of the self as a unique member of the community.

- "Tolerance to the different and the rights of people, who are differ from us."

- "Protection of oppressed minorities": The movement against slavery, for women's equality, children's rights, and the movement against any discrimination.

- "Culture of Peace" - a culture of conflict resolution.

- "The rights of colonized nations to self-determination".

- "Ecology" - a human right to live in a safe and healthy environment.

- "International mechanism of Protection of the Human Rights" - the idea that human rights are not an internal affair of a State.

- "The rights of future generations" ...

This list of values that had emerged and deep-rooted in Europe can be extended much further. As noted by Professor Rahman Badalov in his essay "The problem of the "Other" in the public sphere of the West" ("III Era" magazine, № 7, August 2007):

"In the twentieth century, the development [in Europe] of "dual view on the world "has led to ..." Rehabilitation of animal behavior "(K. Lorenz)," Rehabilitation of the savage "(Levi-Strauss)," Rehabilitation of the subconscious "(S. Freud) (and, of course, sex - H.H.), ... "rehabilitation of women", "rehabilitation of the colonial nations" ...

Looking through this list of "isms" we may feel that we all have known and quite mastered these values. But have we?

In my opinion, even in every small act of thinking we are different from Europeans. Here"s our attitude towards the freedom of speech: "Xəncər yarası sağalar, söz yarası sağalmaz" (wound of the sword would heal with time, wound of the word - never). This brings to mind the requirements of harsh punishment for the "cartoons on the Prophet" or for "insulting the president." But the English proverb on the same subject: "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." (Meaning: it"s okay to brag about me, getting physically hurt is another matter. All in all - "Let them talk").

We say "all or nothing", but a Western man, agrees with the interim position, they say: "Half a loaf is better than non", while they are constantly striving to improve progressively their share and expand their freedom.

We believe in promises, and are ready to wait long for their fulfillment (particularly from the authorities), but Western man says: "Here and now!"

The archaic, patriarchal people long for stability, they are willing to "give up their freedom for stability", but a modern Western personality is characterized by a constant desire to go beyond the horizon, expand the borders of their fate, discover the mysteries, feel the novelties. (And here they are scattered all over the world, with backpacks, traveling bags, and some on armored personnel carriers - we even see them here, they"re already very close.)

We, the semi-feudal people, like people of noble birth (grandson of the academician, the son of the Attorney General or the Khan's great-granddaughter), the hereditary rich (Old money), the ones who have everything from their birth and who don"t have to sully their hands in business. But modern Western people get irritated by such people, they appreciate those who, without the patronage, achieve something in their life: the hero here - is the man who "raised himself" by peacefully producing patties (self-made man) and became a socially significant figure. (To be correct, it's more of an American value).

Finally, the main thing that worries an Azerbaijani man in a collision with modern Europe was ably noted in the comedy of Azerbaijani enlightener Mirza Fatali Akhundov "Monsieur Jordan and dervish Mastali Shah." On the question of what makes us different from Europe, one of the heroes of the play - Hatem Khan Aga with "astonishing precision" answers: "The difference is: here, every man can have a lot of women, and there, in Europe, each woman can have a lot of men." Gender relations or rather, the hegemony of men in this relationship - that is what most worries the average Azeri man: would that hegemony get ruined?

I invite the reader to continue this list of differences. I"m sure that many of us thought about the specific differences between our national and the European values.

However, I want to especially emphasize my above mentioned conclusion, that our values are not "national", they"re better described as patriarchal, archaic. Azerbaijani and European societies in the Middle Ages were guided by the same values.

VALUE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Since the collapse of the communist bloc in 1980, dozens of countries became members of the European Union (EU), next turn is after the former Soviet Republics; let"s hope to see Azerbaijan among those, some day. The process of expansion of the EU had to cause a heated debate about European values - those necessary conditions and qualities, under which the applicant country could become a member of the Union. As pointed out by Michael Emerson, in his report: "What values for Europe?" * - The draft European Constitution at the beginning of the text indicates following values:

""The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between men and women prevail."

However, the speaker, finding the essence and the principles, contained in this paragraph, too abstract, decided to elaborate them. M. Emerson built a list of values, just like the commandments of Moses and called them:

"The Ten Commandments of the European Union"

1. Thou shalt be truly democratic and respectful of human rights and the rule of law

2. Thou shalt guarantee the four freedoms of movement (goods, services, capital, labour).

3. Thou shalt provide for social cohesion between people, regions and states.

4. Thou shalt ensure sustainable economic development for the benefit of future generations.

5. Thou shalt reject nationalism and favour the multiple identity of citizens.

6. Thou shalt assure federative multi-tier governance.

7. Thou shalt assure secular governance and favor multi-cultural pluralism in society.

8. Thou shalt promote multilateral order in international affairs.

9. Thou shalt abstain from threatening or using force against others without just cause.

10. Thou shalt be open, inclusive and integrative towards neighbors that adhere to the above.

I hope someday Azerbaijan will have enough strength to fulfill these commandments, taking into account that, for too many of us, there is nothing particularly alien or incomprehensible about them.

* Michael Emerson, Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), Brussels. CEPS Annual Conference on "What Values for Europe?" 23-24