Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku International Multiculturalism Centre Azerbaijani Multiculturalism Textbook for Higher Education


Multiculturalism is our state policy and our way of life.’



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C fakepathAzerbaycan multikulturalizmi derslik word

Multiculturalism is our state policy and our way of life.’


Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan


PREFACE



distinguishing

feature of the


remarkable pro-


cess of globali-zation in the world today is the increase of ethnic, racial, religious and cultural diversity in society. The process of glo-balization has drawn almost all states into its orbit, helping to create ethnic, racial, religious and cultural diversity in the majority of countries.


Objective and subjective factors shape the formation of this diversity in society. Objec-tive factors include historical, geographical, political, social, economic and cultural rea-sons. The main subjective fac-tor, however, is connected with





policies pursued by the state




despite the increase in ethno-




cultural diversity in society.




One aspect is extremely im-




portant when considering the




role of the state in the increase




of ethnocultural

diversity: this




is whether the diversity is in-




troduced to society obligato-




rily or voluntarily. In the first




case,

ethnocultural diversity is




exported to the territory of a




state without heed for the will




of that country, that is, obliga-




torily. For instance, after occu-




pying the territory of Azerbai-




jan the Sassanid Empire, the




Arab

Caliphate,

the Seljuks,




tsarist Russia and the Soviet




Union all pursued a policy of




moving people into Azerbaijan

9




in order to resolve population differences in their own terri-tories. Another example is the German government, which after World War II allowed la-bour migrants into the country in order to ensure economic development. France, Belgium and other Western countries admitted large numbers of la-bour migrants.

It is true that both in the past and today there have been states that try to limit ethno­ cultural diversity, as they con-sider it a threat to their na-tional security. This shows that these states have an ambiva-lent attitude towards the eth-nic, racial, religious and cul-tural diversity within their own societies. However, the shap-ing of ethnocultural diversity in society­ is a result of objec-tive historical developments. This diversity,­ moreover, shapes ethnocultural­ values and cul-tures of the nations and forms their world view and the basis of their activities. Therefore, this diversity plays a positive



  1. role in the lives of nations. The

prominent Indian politician and leader, Mahatma Gandhi, highly appreciated the role of diversity in the development of society. He said that a culture that aspired to be exclusive was doomed to extinction.


Ethnocultural diversity, which includes the ethnocultural val-ues and cultures of peoples and guides their actions and world view, is essentially a pos-itive phenomenon and plays a positive role in the lives of na-tions. In a democratic law-gov-erned society, it is important for the state to protect this diversity, just as it does social justice, tolerance and equali-ty of opportunity. The protec-tion of ethnocultural diversi-ty is an integral part of active state policy. The management of ethnocultural diversity must take into account the interests of all parties concerned; that is, the state and the ethnic and religious minorities them-selves. If ethnocultural diversity­ is not managed correctly, se-rious problems and even con-flicts may arise in different ar-


eas. Therefore, the appropriate management of ethnocultural diversity acquires great practi-cal importance for every multi-cultural state.


National Leader of Azerbaijan­ Heydar Aliyev attached great importance to the protection of ethnocultural diversity in society. He said: ‘The more eth-nicities a country has, the rich-er it becomes, as each of them contributes to world culture and civilization.’


UNESCO adopted a Univer­ sal Declaration on Cultural Di-versity on 2 November 2001. Article One of the declaration, entitled ‘Cultural diversity: the common heritage of human-ity’, says, ‘As a source of ex-change, innovation and cre-ativity, cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature. In this sense, it is the common herit-age of humanity and should be recognized and affirmed for the benefit of present and future generations.’


Just as it is not easy for the state to substantiate theoret-





ically the importance of man-




aging ethnocultural diversity in




society, it is also difficult to do




in practice. Many states, even




a number of leading Western




states, are unable to manage




ethnocultural diversity in soci-




ety appropriately. Disturbanc-




es on ethnic, racial, religious




and cultural grounds in those




countries are evidence of this.




One of the mistakes in man-




aging cultural diversity is en-




forced cultural

assimilation.




Or, as mentioned above, some




states think that an increase in




ethnocultural diversity threat-




ens their security and try to




prevent an increase in diversity




through a policy of isolation.




At present the number of such




states is growing as a result of




the refugee and migrant crisis.




The present-day Republic




of Azerbaijan is one of the ex-




emplary states in the sphere of




the appropriate

management




of ethnocultural diversity in so-




ciety. Azerbaijan

has achieved




great success in this sphere, as




can be seen in the absence of




any ethnic, religious and racial

11













confrontation or conflict in the




country. It is the result of the




multiculturalism policy found-




ed by the National Leader of




Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, and




successfully pursued by the cur­




rent President of the Republic




of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.




Another important indicator




of the appropriate manage-




ment of ethnocultural diversity




in Azerbaijan is the use of the




terms ‘the Azerbaijani model of





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