SIA presents to the readers a chapter from the book by academician Ramiz Mehdiyev preparing for publication. The article was published in the Bakinskiy Rabochiy newspaper dated 20 June 2012.
At the end of the 20th century, Azerbaijan gained state independence for the second time. Azerbaijani people received the opportunity to define their fate, implement the idea of independent statehood, live with the ideas about independent future.
Today, in 20 years since the start of the country’s transformation from one political and economic system into another, we can say that though our statehood faced serious trials up to the attempt of coup, the development continues, overall. We were moving forward, defining our future. The observed course did not only symbolize the intention to pass from one political and economic system into another but also the intention of transformation from modern into post-modern, from industrial into postindustrial world. Naturally, to achieve necessary level of development, we need to do much: improve the development vector, reduce economic dependence on oil export and pass to creation of the economy of knowledge, science-driven production, high technologies and innovative spheres.
Today Azerbaijan is moving forward by defining the development goals with the clear understanding of the followed direction and of the future that we intend to create for the next generations. The choice that Heydar Aliyev made in the 1990s defined the priorities of development of modern Azerbaijan in political, economic and sociocultural spheres. It has become evident that the political and economic transformation, formation of a new intellectual class, innovations, mobilization of the society are needed to build a strong, effective state in order not to be on the backside of history. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan makes its modernization breakthrough, an economic rush and creates new, democratic, political institutions in conditions of factual war with Armenia that occupied 20% of our lands.
Therefore, the socioeconomic model that we want to create, the ways to use our human potential and the heights we can achieve in the coming 30-40 years are growing of special importance. These are not dreams but an incredible desire to get to understand how to reach the development level worthy of our national history, spiritual, human and intellectual resources and potential of the nation.
Meanwhile, it is important that we could preserve the stage of development which characterizes Azerbaijan beginning from 2004. Today there are more opportunities for intensive renewal, modernization and formation of a new intellectual class than ever. Therefore, in conditions of global instability and implementation of various scripts on creation of the controlled chaos, the future of Azerbaijan is not only an urgent issue but also a task which must be settled by modern young generation-active, energetic and completely ready to build a strong and effective statehood. This generation as a representative of a new intellectual class, a new cluster of human potential of modern Azerbaijan will form the postmodern values, since the challenge of the time is the idea of modernization in the context of the post-industrial society in the 21st century.
The first decade of the new century saw serious transformations in the world which covered all spheres of people’s lives. The potential of previous approaches in the resolution of problems of formation of societies already exhausted. New innovative methods and sources to stimulate strong development are required. Current global changes demand organization, discipline and search of effective ways for survival, creation of new socioeconomic forms and values which could ensure the state competitiveness. A nation, whose intellectual level and creative capacities need to improve in line with the new changes, is the driving force of these goals.
Azerbaijan has unique opportunities for implementation of tasks dictated by the modern stage in the history of the humankind.
Based on human and natural resources, the created socioeconomic and spiritual basis, natural and geographic conditions, Azerbaijani nation is able to form a society that would meet the spirit of the new coming era where not one but several state will rather dominate and the gravity center will gradually shift from West to East. The significance and uniqueness of Azerbaijan is that it locates at the junction of Europe and Asia which is why it has to be able to use the experience of civilizations in the national strategy of development skillfully with the benefit for itself.
Every sober person has his goals, his life strategy which he follows. This can also be attributed fully to a whole nation. Every nation has its national strategy (at least, it must have), however, it does not mean that all nations are able to create it. But they try to do so. The national strategy aimed at settling definite tasks constitutes the power of nation. Implementation of the national strategy is an everyday care of the political elite of any nation, a subconscious need for it which is natural and raises no doubt.
Thus, the national strategy of Azerbaijan is aimed at restoration of the territorial integrity of the country, strengthening state independence and security of the people, creation of a modern state, modern economy and modern society. All the same, it is important to remember the main thing: Azerbaijan has to compensate for the relatively modest territory and population (compared to Russia and Iran) with the transition to qualitative and technological superiority.
Achievement of this strategic goal is possible if every member of the Azerbaijani society strives to learn the tendencies, ways of modern development, wishes to attain prosperity. To this end, it is necessary to learn, raise level of education, develop the ability to think, raise working skills, strengthen social responsibility and finally the competitiveness of a personality and a country, as a whole. The growth in the number of creative and smart people, intellectuals with a creative energy among the nation can become a driving force which will promote creation of a modern society in Azerbaijan. These qualities of the nation must lay the basis for the innovative modernization of the country as a main component of materialization of a national idea.
All the same, the experience of the states of ‘Golden billion’ shows that another important factor of the settlement of tasks of the innovative modernization of the country, construction of a modern society is the presence of socially oriented liberal economy, social justice and strong presidential power. Without the organizing and directing role of a strong national leader all attempts to reach the level of the developed states can fail.
Beginning from mid 1993 Azerbaijan defined its strategic choice. It started developing as a modern, secular country integrating with the world community and committed to the democratic grounds. First steps in the sphere of political modernization have promoted economic growth which led to the gradual settlement of accumulated social problems. The authorities have defined that it is necessary to put efforts for the search of new instruments of development, while being aware that the achievements in raising national security are mostly promoted by developed economy, spiritual and intellectual state of the society.
The experience of many countries evidences that the growing internal political and economic stability in the country causes the need for values that would respond to the tendencies of further development of the society now aimed at reviewing the past values that are adjusted to modern realities.
In 1992, by the start of the second term of Heydar Aliyev’s presidency, the Azerbaijani society left behind the state of chaos and lawlessness and felt the striving for new values which could be expressed through a new development ideology. There appeared a need for a more reliable base of values and collective self-conscience which would correspond to the ideas of national and state construction in new conditions. Along with the development of national identity, the society started to address new development sources which would ensure the country’s competitiveness, along with preserving values that have not yet been washed out by the globalization process.
The presidential elections of 2003 became a turning point in this view. Beginning from that period, President Ilham Aliyev continued the strategic course of Heydar Aliyev and, relying on the established socioeconomic base and in line with the time challenges, started to implement new state tasks: it was necessary to accelerate the settlement of problems emanating from the requirements of the industrial society and shift to construction of the postindustrial (information) society. The president realized that the renewal to cover all spheres of social life is a necessary provision for achievement of the set goal.
Ilham Aliyev’s presidency signified the star of a qualitatively new stage in the life of Azerbaijani state. Immediately after taking over the office, President Ilham Aliyev set the pace to the socioeconomic development of the country with his first decrees ‘On measures to accelerate socioeconomic development in the Republic of Azerbaijan" (November 2003), "On establishment of the State Program of Socioeconomic Development of the regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2004-2008)" (February 2004). It is possible to say that these decrees have promoted the shift to a new, innovative review of the problems of Azerbaijani development. Modernization of all spheres of social life to add to the list of the most developed states is becoming a priority.