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

III
AZERBAIJANI MULTICULTURALISM IN
THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SYSTEM


Chapter 6


MULTICULTURALISM AND THE FOREIGN POLICY
OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN


6.1. Multiculturalism as a Factor in the Successful Foreign Policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan

In 5.1 we came to the conclusion that multiculturalism as an integral part of the domestic policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan maintains the high level of state and religion relations in the country and preserves the ethnocultural values of various peoples and ethnic groups living there, enabling them to integrate into society.

As an important part of the domestic policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, multiculturalism also has a positive impact on the country’s foreign policy, or to be more exact, makes it more effective. This is perfectly natural, as it derives from the relationship between domestic and foreign policy. In this relationship domestic

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policy plays a defining role in relation to foreign policy*. Stability within the country lays the foundations for a peaceful foreign policy in conformity with international law. The reverse is also true – an unstable, critical situation in the country is one of the main reasons for an aggressive foreign policy that disregards international law.

Bearing in mind that domestic policy plays a defining role in foreign policy, this helps to explain the success achieved in foreign policy through the positive impact of multiculturalism. While the policy of multiculturalism of the Republic of Azerbaijan serves to protect ethnic, racial, religious and cultural diversity within the country and the values that form their basis, the policy also creates favourable conditions for the development of comprehensive relations between Azerbaijan and all countries, irrespective of their ethnic, religious, racial and cultural diversity. And this in its turn creates favourable conditions for the promotion of dialogue between cultures and civilizations.

The political scientist Samuel Huntington wrote in his work The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order that the collapse of the world communist system put an end to the Cold War, eliminating the political, military, economic and ideological confrontation of two opposing socio-political systems. As a result, in the new world order the most important distinction among the peoples became not ideological, political or economic distinctions, but cultural ones. He wrote that the dominant role of ethnocultural values and culture in social development causes the clash of

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  Domestic policy plays a defining role in relation to foreign policy, but foreign policy
  

has a reverse impact on domestic policy. The country’s achievements in the foreign policy sphere have a positive influence on its domestic policy, stabilize the domes-tic situation and strengthen the position of the government. The corollary applies and the country’s setbacks in the foreign policy sphere have a negative impact on its domestic policy. First of all, they can lead to protests by the population against

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     the government. Thus, the relationship between domestic and foreign policies is reciprocal in nature, though domestic policy plays the defining role.
     

civilizations. Azerbaijan’s actions in international relations and its foreign policy based on multicultural ideas are evidence that Huntington’s dangerous prediction, which creates a fatalistic and pessimistic outlook, is incorrect. One of the main directions of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy is the promotion of dialogue between cultures and civilizations all over the world. It should be noted that Azerbaijan has made great achievements in this regard. One of them is the Baku Process, which recently entered the political lexicon.

The Baku Process is an initiative of Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, to promote intercultural dialogue, and is a manifestation of multiculturalism in the international relations system. As part of the Baku Process, Azerbaijan has hosted numerous reputable international forums promoting dialogue among cultures and civilizations. (The Baku Process is considered in more detail in the following subsection.)

As a result of its growing reputation, built on projects to promote dialogue, Azerbaijan chalked up two significant diplomatic achievements in 2011. Azerbaijan was elected a member of the United Nations Security Council in a secret ballot held at the plenary session of the UN General Assembly. Winning a two-thirds majority of votes, i.e. with the support of 155 countries, Azerbaijan represented the Eastern European region at the UN Security Council in 2012-13. President Ilham Aliyev stated in this regard:

‘Azerbaijan’s victory, with the support of 155 countries, in the elections for membership of the UN Security Council clearly demonstrates that the absolute majority of the international community supports Azerbaijan, regards Azerbaijan as a reliable partner and is ready to express their position in such a significant vote.’

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A significant practical achievement in promoting multi­culturalism in the new era was the President’s creation of the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre (BIMC), as mentioned in the last chapter. It showed that President Aliyev considers the promotion of dialogue among cultures and civilizations a priority in his foreign policy. The Centre carries out a number of projects to encourage this dialogue, of which the following can be mentioned in particular:

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