Alexander Chumakov: “Not a single republic of the former USSR engages in philosophy as actively as Azerbaijan”

A book entitled “Dialogue of Cultures: Social, Political and Value Aspects” written by the RAS Philosophy Institute, the RAAS Institute of State and Law, the ANAS Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law, the Russian Institute for Culturology, Russian Philosophical Society and the Heydar Aliyev Fund office in Russia. The book was edited by Professor Nizami Mamedov, the director of the Institute of Globalization and Sustainable Development of the Academy of the International Independent University of Environmental and Political Sciences, and Doctor of Philosophy Alexander Chumakov, vice president of the Russian Philosophical Society.

Alexander Chumakov explained processes in the post-Soviet space in philosophical terms in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza.

- The book “Dialogue of Cultures: Social, Political and Value Aspects” collects speeches of famous scientists about the formation of a global way of thinking, political and legal aspects of multiculturalism, the diversity of the world and universal values. How topical is it for Russia and the countries of the South Caucasus today?

- There is no doubt that dialogue of cultures is one of the most topical themes today. The state of affairs we have in the world today is very acute in separate points, I am talking about military conflicts, that is just the result of dialogue failure. In his time, [Prussian military theorist General Carl von Clausewitz] formulated quite clearly that war is “the continuation of policy with the admixture of other means.” Politics can and should be peaceful and based on dialogue, of course. In this aspect, we see many problems associated with dialogue of cultures.

We should also talk about civilization development of society, not only culture. The cultural, let’s say, basis is what detaches people, not separates them. It makes every person, every nation, a representative of one culture or another. Differentiation has always been and will always be there. It is hard to build a dialogue on differentiation. A dialogue is built upon the extent of civilization development a society gets. A civilization is characterized by statehood, legality, its attitude towards human rights. The term appeared in the early modern period due to bourgeois-democratic transformations.

Post-Soviet republics are a civilization unity, not cultural. We are all approximately on the same level of development. We all have very different cultures but our civilization origins are very close.

- Can we talk about cultural-civilization interaction of the former Soviet republics?

- Russian-Abkhaz relations can serve as an example of intercultural dialogue. The scientific community is actively discussing what we need to say about the culture of a nation or civilizations, we need to talk about the cultural-civilization origins it is all being built upon. In this regard, we need to remember our history, everything we have developed, rely on the present and look to the future from these positions. I think that Russian-Azerbaijani relations are an example.

The demand for this cultural dialogue appeared 8-10 years ago, the Heydar Aliyev Fund played a special role in its development. I must note that not a single former USSR republic is engaged in philosophy as actively as Russia and Azerbaijan. They have become the initiators of Aliyev readings, we carry them out in a wider format. We understand that the persona and the figure of Heydar Aliyev do not cast doubts, just like the role he played in the history of Azerbaijan. He added a worthy page to the history of the USSR. But today, it is very important too, we see a continuation of the deeds, and I see from my philosophical contacts and ties that the past is valued, the present is respected. Some things are being reframed. On this basis, we certainly can and should look to the future.

About processes happening in the post-Soviet space in philosophical termsA book entitled “Dialogue of Cultures: Social, Political and Value Aspects” written by the RAS Philosophy Institute, the RAAS Institute of State and Law, the ANAS Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law, the Russian Institute for Culturology, Russian Philosophical Society and the Heydar Aliyev Fund office in Russia. The book was edited by Professor Nizami Mamedov, the director of the Institute of Globalization and Sustainable Development of the Academy of the International Independent University of Environmental and Political Sciences, and Doctor of Philosophy Alexander Chumakov, vice president of the Russian Philosophical Society.Alexander Chumakov explained processes in the post-Soviet space in philosophical terms in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza.- The book “Dialogue of Cultures: Social, Political and Value Aspects” collects speeches of famous scientists about the formation of a global way of thinking, political and legal aspects of multiculturalism, the diversity of the world and universal values. How topical is it for Russia and the countries of the South Caucasus today?- There is no doubt that dialogue of cultures is one of the most topical themes today. The state of affairs we have in the world today is very acute in separate points, I am talking about military conflicts, that is just the result of dialogue failure. In his time, [Prussian military theorist General Carl von Clausewitz] formulated quite clearly that war is “the continuation of policy with the admixture of other means.” Politics can and should be peaceful and based on dialogue, of course. In this aspect, we see many problems associated with dialogue of cultures.We should also talk about civilization development of society, not only culture. The cultural, let’s say, basis is what detaches people, not separates them. It makes every person, every nation, a representative of one culture or another. Differentiation has always been and will always be there. It is hard to build a dialogue on differentiation. A dialogue is built upon the extent of civilization development a society gets. A civilization is characterized by statehood, legality, its attitude towards human rights. The term appeared in the early modern period due to bourgeois-democratic transformations.Post-Soviet republics are a civilization unity, not cultural. We are all approximately on the same level of development. We all have very different cultures but our civilization origins are very close.- Can we talk about cultural-civilization interaction of the former Soviet republics?- Russian-Abkhaz relations can serve as an example of intercultural dialogue. The scientific community is actively discussing what we need to say about the culture of a nation or civilizations, we need to talk about the cultural-civilization origins it is all being built upon. In this regard, we need to remember our history, everything we have developed, rely on the present and look to the future from these positions. I think that Russian-Azerbaijani relations are an example.The demand for this cultural dialogue appeared 8-10 years ago, the Heydar Aliyev Fund played a special role in its development. I must note that not a single former USSR republic is engaged in philosophy as actively as Russia and Azerbaijan. They have become the initiators of Aliyev readings, we carry them out in a wider format. We understand that the persona and the figure of Heydar Aliyev do not cast doubts, just like the role he played in the history of Azerbaijan. He added a worthy page to the history of the USSR. But today, it is very important too, we see a continuation of the deeds, and I see from my philosophical contacts and ties that the past is valued, the present is respected. Some things are being reframed. On this basis, we certainly can and should look to the fut