New tendencies in the former Soviet republics. Russian and Azerbaijani political experience.
The upcoming elections in Azerbaijan have provided a chance to identify new tendencies in the political life of the countries of the former USSR, to find out what new challenges the political elites of the post-Soviet republics have to face.
What are these new challenges about? First of all, the new electorate is much younger. These young people were brought up during the period of Independence and their personality was formed in quite different conditions than those of their parents. Their elders were raised in Soviet times and have were brought up on those values, while the new generation is completely different. That is why it's necessary to identify political tendencies that are common among young people.
The experience of Moldova and Kyrgyzstan has shown that these people, being the most politically active part of the society, are like a clay, from which everything can be modelled. Sometimes this clay can be misused, so each government should pay special attention to the youth. In Russia and Azerbaijan this is understood and so the governments carry out special youth policies.
In 10 or 15 years today's young people will determine the policies of both countries and their relations. That means it's necessary to help them get acquainted with each other now, to establish special structures, in which young people from Russia and Azerbaijan exchange their experience and ideas.
The second tendency is that society is becoming more and more involved in politics. The construction of a civil society that was started by the officials is now continued by various public organizations and citizens themselves.
In Azerbaijan we see how the institutions of a civil society, such as various public organizations, are involved in the elections. Society is trying to control the elections, and the authorities are ready to cooperate with the social institutions. That is a necessary condition for the existence of a civil society.
Political parties are also undergoing serious changes. In the 90s and at the beginning of the 21st century political parties in the former Soviet republics were comparatively weak and their aim was to enter parliament and nothing else. Now political parties are powerful organizations with elaborated programs and ideologies. At the centres of the political systems of Russia and Azerbaijan are the two most prominent political forces - "United Russia" and "New Azerbaijan".
Why are these political parties so influential and popular? The reason is that these parties are not trying to buy votes using cheap populism or quasi-political rhetoric. These two parties are real political and social forces ready to cooperate with the institutions of civil society. These parties provide clear programs which are logically implemented by officials. That is why these parties are so popular and have strong social support.
In addition to all this, another trend is obvious. Political elites in both Russia and Azerbaijan are trying to find an ideological background for effective modernization. It can be understood in different ways, but for both countries it's necessary to develop a certain long-term strategy of development.
It's clear that successful development is impossible without three major factors: a strong governmental system, a civil society and effective leadership. Russia and Azerbaijan have all these and that means that the two countries have good prospects.
Alexey Vlasov. Exclusively to VK.
