`We are not infected with the nationalism virus`
In the last two decades, the Azerbaijani nation has
been subjected to severe tests. We have gained independence despite
Armenia`s occupying 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territories. With
regard to the occupation of Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh and seven
adjacent regions, in addition to external factors, including
military aid by post-Soviet army elements, there was one more
factor of no small importance in the history of our relations with
Armenians. They saw in us a part of the Turks whom Armenians feel
pathological hatred towards. From early childhood, they teach their
children this hatred and they absorb it with breast milk. This
powerful emotional and psychological burden is passed on from
generation to generation and it has been manifested in different
ways throughout two centuries. Our nation also became an object of
this policy - the unbridled fantasy of "the fathers of Armenia".
The result has always been obvious, the years of 1905 and 1918, the
ousting of Azerbaijanis from their native lands, the Khojaly
genocide committed before the very eyes of the international
community, etc.
Is it possible to ignore national chauvinism of the majority of Armenians or, as they consider, is all this an impudent manifestation of patriotism? They try, and perhaps, sometimes, they have succeeded in convincing the world community quiet conversely of their claims, pretending to be victims of centuries-old policy of "genocide" by Turkey and Azerbaijan. This being said, reasonable questions arise as to how we should meet these challenges. Can we arm also with the very nationalism and teach our children hatred against our neighbor, a bad neighbor-killer? Where do the roots stem of our absolute forgiveness, lack of justified hate toward those who kill our fellow countrymen, plunder their homes, and take away women and children as prisoners for further annihilation through unseen torture?
We have approached Professor Rafig Aliyev for answers to these questions.
In itself, patriotism is an internal state of human beings and, it seems to me, it is initially inherent to them even on subconscious and genetic levels. It can exist without being fostered by other patriots, and this is an individual and all-sufficient phenomenon.
Patriotism is not directed against anyone in particular. This feeling is the value of an entire nation, its defense in the shape of a covering. Overall, our fellow countrymen`s patriotism poses a barrier for national chauvinism as well as the negative emotions and outbursts which are not borne by it.
The main distinguishing feature of patriotism is lack of an enemy image, a condition necessary for the existence of nationalism; it fosters a desire to be good to those who are alike. United patriots do good for their nation and state together with all people of other nations, without exulting themselves, because they lack in-born hate.
In my opinion, nationalism is a political phenomenon rather than spiritual. Nationalism has an enemy image as a necessary condition for existence. It has general goals and objectives for the achievement and solution of which it combats and wages war for the elimination or subordination of others. With this in mind, it is impossible to confuse these two notions - "patriotism" and "nationalism": they have quite a different nature and specifics. Each nationalist can become not only a patriot but also a militant, and not an all-sufficient, potential chauvinist. A patriot should not be a nationalist in order to keep his spiritual state but maintain important bonds with the Motherland, its development, prosperity and defense. At times it is difficult for a person of narrow interests to draw a distinction between the said two phenomena. It is known that "leaders" need these sentiments as an acceptable ideology allowing leading the masses. If power is concentrated in reliable hands, patriotism is brought to the forefront, but otherwise, nationalism becomes a formidable weapon underlying an appropriate ideological structure. With the help of this argument, the authorities can easily get rid of patriots (as it was under Stalin and other dictators), especially active patriots aspiring not to allow wild outbursts of national chauvinism, which is a pernicious phenomenon for the community and state as a whole.
The consolidation of nationalists quite often results in the creation of an organization which is condescending of other nationals and begins striving to restrict their rights or simply annihilate them. The distance between nationalism and chauvinism and fascism is not great, as very delicate and "sensitive" barriers separate these notions.
This kind of nationalism brings to its nation not prosperity but hardship, troubles and war. A hungry beast is awaken in it, which needs a victim in order to display its power. That`s why it is necessary to distinguish these two notions that appear to be close to one another. The first one is something natural and comprehensible for the majority, while the second one is detrimental for a nation and causes trouble to others. Underlying this sentiment is not love and understanding but hate and lack of acceptance.
As history shows, a nation exalted by national chauvinism is doomed to fall from the same height and broken into a multitude of parts. Only a new kind of true patriotism, arisen at the heart of such a nation, can actually save it. The history provides no other versions.
Mr. Aliyev, what do you think about citizens` attitude towards these notions in our country? What prevails here - patriotism or nationalism?
It is our very patriotism that fully fits the above-mentioned definition. We are likely not to have nationalism inclinations in our genes in its negative sense. Even the 20-year-long non-healing Garabagh wound has failed to arouse an enemy image for us. This is a paradox but fact. We are living this time, while witnessing all the unfolding developments of this period in history. Whether it is good or bad is difficult to judge. Facts are stubborn things. All occurs before our eyes and it is impossible to falsify anything. A human being cannot bear in himself two fundamental origins - virtue and evil - at the same time. These notions are diametrically opposite and their essence cannot be even counter-opposed.
Are we patriots or nationalists? It is possible to answer unambiguously to this question, which pertains to our essence as a nation. We are not infected with the nationalism virus. It is difficult to say who and when inoculated our ancestry against this virus. Sometimes you terribly want to be nationalist but I am sure not everyone who wishes for it can succeed in this. At best, we can expect some outbursts failing to turn to smolder. The nationalism of an Azerbaijani can be at best pan-Turkism which is not the same. The span is extending, and our nationalist is usually lost amidst common masses and he cannot be of any use. Growing a tree of nationalism is not a matter of one century. Our ancestry seemed not to have been aware of such a seed - they enjoyed the fruits of another tree which could not provoke hate against other nations, even those who have been causing harm to our people for centuries. I mean those who aimed to annihilate us as nation. The roots of our tree of virtue are strong enough, and have unfortunately been the cause of many of our sufferings. Certainly, a human being can suffer from being good no less than from being evil.
This is the reality of our days; this is our historical heritage which has been bestowed upon us, a course set by our ancestors. As for what motivated their behavior, only God knows that, and we have to simply deal with the consequences of their deeds. Personally, I think quite a few of our compatriots would give up this kind of heritage for a certain time. But is it enough? I am afraid not. Those born to fly cannot creep - and this is the wisdom of all times.
The question you asked touches upon the interests of all Azerbaijanis. I have expressed my take on this, and there are probably other views.
Is it possible to ignore national chauvinism of the majority of Armenians or, as they consider, is all this an impudent manifestation of patriotism? They try, and perhaps, sometimes, they have succeeded in convincing the world community quiet conversely of their claims, pretending to be victims of centuries-old policy of "genocide" by Turkey and Azerbaijan. This being said, reasonable questions arise as to how we should meet these challenges. Can we arm also with the very nationalism and teach our children hatred against our neighbor, a bad neighbor-killer? Where do the roots stem of our absolute forgiveness, lack of justified hate toward those who kill our fellow countrymen, plunder their homes, and take away women and children as prisoners for further annihilation through unseen torture?
We have approached Professor Rafig Aliyev for answers to these questions.
In itself, patriotism is an internal state of human beings and, it seems to me, it is initially inherent to them even on subconscious and genetic levels. It can exist without being fostered by other patriots, and this is an individual and all-sufficient phenomenon.
Patriotism is not directed against anyone in particular. This feeling is the value of an entire nation, its defense in the shape of a covering. Overall, our fellow countrymen`s patriotism poses a barrier for national chauvinism as well as the negative emotions and outbursts which are not borne by it.
The main distinguishing feature of patriotism is lack of an enemy image, a condition necessary for the existence of nationalism; it fosters a desire to be good to those who are alike. United patriots do good for their nation and state together with all people of other nations, without exulting themselves, because they lack in-born hate.
In my opinion, nationalism is a political phenomenon rather than spiritual. Nationalism has an enemy image as a necessary condition for existence. It has general goals and objectives for the achievement and solution of which it combats and wages war for the elimination or subordination of others. With this in mind, it is impossible to confuse these two notions - "patriotism" and "nationalism": they have quite a different nature and specifics. Each nationalist can become not only a patriot but also a militant, and not an all-sufficient, potential chauvinist. A patriot should not be a nationalist in order to keep his spiritual state but maintain important bonds with the Motherland, its development, prosperity and defense. At times it is difficult for a person of narrow interests to draw a distinction between the said two phenomena. It is known that "leaders" need these sentiments as an acceptable ideology allowing leading the masses. If power is concentrated in reliable hands, patriotism is brought to the forefront, but otherwise, nationalism becomes a formidable weapon underlying an appropriate ideological structure. With the help of this argument, the authorities can easily get rid of patriots (as it was under Stalin and other dictators), especially active patriots aspiring not to allow wild outbursts of national chauvinism, which is a pernicious phenomenon for the community and state as a whole.
The consolidation of nationalists quite often results in the creation of an organization which is condescending of other nationals and begins striving to restrict their rights or simply annihilate them. The distance between nationalism and chauvinism and fascism is not great, as very delicate and "sensitive" barriers separate these notions.
This kind of nationalism brings to its nation not prosperity but hardship, troubles and war. A hungry beast is awaken in it, which needs a victim in order to display its power. That`s why it is necessary to distinguish these two notions that appear to be close to one another. The first one is something natural and comprehensible for the majority, while the second one is detrimental for a nation and causes trouble to others. Underlying this sentiment is not love and understanding but hate and lack of acceptance.
As history shows, a nation exalted by national chauvinism is doomed to fall from the same height and broken into a multitude of parts. Only a new kind of true patriotism, arisen at the heart of such a nation, can actually save it. The history provides no other versions.
Mr. Aliyev, what do you think about citizens` attitude towards these notions in our country? What prevails here - patriotism or nationalism?
It is our very patriotism that fully fits the above-mentioned definition. We are likely not to have nationalism inclinations in our genes in its negative sense. Even the 20-year-long non-healing Garabagh wound has failed to arouse an enemy image for us. This is a paradox but fact. We are living this time, while witnessing all the unfolding developments of this period in history. Whether it is good or bad is difficult to judge. Facts are stubborn things. All occurs before our eyes and it is impossible to falsify anything. A human being cannot bear in himself two fundamental origins - virtue and evil - at the same time. These notions are diametrically opposite and their essence cannot be even counter-opposed.
Are we patriots or nationalists? It is possible to answer unambiguously to this question, which pertains to our essence as a nation. We are not infected with the nationalism virus. It is difficult to say who and when inoculated our ancestry against this virus. Sometimes you terribly want to be nationalist but I am sure not everyone who wishes for it can succeed in this. At best, we can expect some outbursts failing to turn to smolder. The nationalism of an Azerbaijani can be at best pan-Turkism which is not the same. The span is extending, and our nationalist is usually lost amidst common masses and he cannot be of any use. Growing a tree of nationalism is not a matter of one century. Our ancestry seemed not to have been aware of such a seed - they enjoyed the fruits of another tree which could not provoke hate against other nations, even those who have been causing harm to our people for centuries. I mean those who aimed to annihilate us as nation. The roots of our tree of virtue are strong enough, and have unfortunately been the cause of many of our sufferings. Certainly, a human being can suffer from being good no less than from being evil.
This is the reality of our days; this is our historical heritage which has been bestowed upon us, a course set by our ancestors. As for what motivated their behavior, only God knows that, and we have to simply deal with the consequences of their deeds. Personally, I think quite a few of our compatriots would give up this kind of heritage for a certain time. But is it enough? I am afraid not. Those born to fly cannot creep - and this is the wisdom of all times.
The question you asked touches upon the interests of all Azerbaijanis. I have expressed my take on this, and there are probably other views.
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