The new national idea of the society and the President

In his latest speech, President Ilham Aliyev acknowledged that historical victories cannot be endlessly exploited in propaganda, we must think about the future, the goals of which must be formulated in a new national idea.

"I would like discussions on the issue of our basic national idea and ideas about our future development to take place in society - among politicians, political scientists, scientists, intellectuals. That is, what should be the main national ideas in connection with our future development. This should be a topic of public discussion."

The last widely known work on the national idea of Azerbaijanis was the book "The National Idea of Azerbaijan in the era of Global Transformations" by academician of ANAS, former head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev. The 2017 book, consisting of uncoordinated and poorly reasoned statements, was criticized by the public and praised by the pro-government press. Moreover, R.Mehdiyev's supporters praised the author without touching on the essence of his work. Mehdiyev's work did not become a program document of the Azerbaijani state, being forgotten with the resignation of the author. 

Maybe Mehdiyev's book was not supported from above because the author had to compete with the  president of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, who postulated his idea of a national idea, which he called "Azerbaijanism". This term meant the national ideology of all citizens of Azerbaijan, regardless of national and religious affiliation, united by the common goal of building a sovereign, secular, social, legal, independent and democratic state.

I. Aliyev decided that by fully restoring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, his people had solved the national idea of their time.  Now the tasks should be different. What will society say?  The society began to debate.   The co-owner of the law firm, lawyer Akram Hasanov, puts forward the construction of a state governed by the rule of law as a national task. And public activist Nazim Azimov proposes to eliminate the monopoly of the oligarchs, introduce elements of a market economy, improve the standard of living of the population, and achieve the opening of new jobs in the regions.

Turan asked reputable analysts about the new national idea. Isa Gambar, Chairman of the National Center for Strategic Thinking, believes that until corruption, monopoly in the economy and politics, lawlessness are eradicated in the country, without the formation of an independent judicial system, the development and welfare of society is difficult to imagine.

"They (the current government - Ed.) have been looking for a national idea to replace Musavatism since 1993. They can't and won't be able to find it. Azerbaijan cannot have a national ideology other than Musavatism," Isa Gambar told Turan.

This idea, put forward in 1911 by Mammad Emin Rasulzade, unites the principles of equality of people, the rule of law and freedom of speech.  Slogans of the Musavatists:  Turkism, Islam, democracy. 

Historian Arif Yunusov rejects the need for a national idea. He told Turan that the concept of "national idea" was invented in Russia, they are obsessed with it, after the Russians we began to talk about it. There is no such thing outside the post-Soviet world.

"Let's take the Netherlands (A. Yunusov lives in this country.- Ed.), and other European countries, what kind of nation do they have? They won't even understand such a question. But there is something that unites all Western countries - respect for the law. This is the cornerstone of the psychology of the people of the Western world. Respect for the law, and not only from ordinary citizens, but primarily from high-ranking persons, and the higher the level of the person (kings, presidents, prime ministers, ministers and deputies), the more society demands from them respect for the law. This should be the main thing for our society. Then the elections will not be fictitious, but real, and the fight against corruption and much more will be real. Azerbaijan will not have political prisoners; the country will not be on the list of human rights violators."

The proposal to put forward a new national idea was picked up by the CEC-recognized presidential candidates in the early elections scheduled for February 7.

Deputy and chairman of the United Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Gudret Hasanguliyev announced that the national idea of the country should  achieve national unity with Azerbaijanis living in neighboring countries. "And for our party, the new goals are a just society, a rule of law, and the development of democracy," Hasanguliyev announced.

Another presidential candidate, MP Zahid Oruj, stated on his social page that it is necessary to start creating a new political system based on the platform of victory in Karabakh. "Now the desires of peace, restoration and construction, development and prosperity, cohabitation and national pride reign in the soul of every victorious Azerbaijani," Z.Oruj said.

Discussions are heating up.  But it is unknown how, in the absence of a national referendum on the national idea, the final choice will be formed, directing the nation to achieve new goals.  Inviting the society to start public discussions about a new national idea, President I. Aliyev said: "I have my own thoughts about further development, and in many cases they will be decisive."