Multiculturalism was one of the main issues discussed at the International Humanitarian Forum in Baku. The discussion, which was started in Europe, caused an echo in the former Soviet space, where crisis points in relations between peoples and ethnic groups continue. Experts at the forum shared the common view that multiculturalism shouldn’t be ignored when settling social problems. The main thing is the practice of implementation. The head of the Moscow bureau on human rights, member of the Public Chamber of Russia, Alexander Brod, told VK about resistance to xenophobia and extremism.
- During the Baku International Humanitarian Forum multiculturalism was intensively discussed. It correlates with the struggle against xenophobia and extremism. Do you think multiculturalism is irrelevant today or is it simply misunderstood by Western countries?
- I think first of all we should define what multiculturalism is. We should understand the basis of the term. As for experts, the respected researcher Emil Pain suggested a new term – interculturalism. It means cultural exchange and preservation of cultures, establishment of a melting pot and a united nation. Of course discussion is taking place: whether multiculturalism is alive, could it settle conflicts and tension between migrants and local populations, could it build a system of cooperation between various ethnic groups, considering the globalization process and open borders, and so on. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leaders of Britain, France and other countries think that multiculturalism has found itself in crisis. However, President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev says that multiculturalism shouldn’t be buried alive. According to him, a united civil Russian nation should be established as a supreme level, which would contain a second level – ethnic variety. Unfortunately, these ideas of Medvedev's didn’t meet support, as often happens with good presidential initiatives.
Russia hasn’t renewed the concept of ethnic policy which was developed in 1999. Many things have changed since that time. New threats and challenges appeared. The ethnic composition of Russia has changed. Migration processes have strengthened. At the same time, interethnic conflicts became more frequent. Xenophobia has grown. This document should be adopted as soon as possible. Moreover, the law on ethnic-cultural autonomies should be reconsidered. At the moment, autonomies are working according to the principle “give us money for ethnic holidays.” I think they should participate in the development of Russia's ethnic policy. The concept of migration policy should be adopted urgently. It was developed by the governmental commission on migration problems, headed by Igor Shuvalov. The Public Chamber has considered the conception. It contains an important vector directed at adaptation and socialization of migrants. If these three basic documents are ratified, regional laws could be coordinated with them and ethnic policy could be established. In this case we will speak about practical implementation of multiculturalism and interculturalism.
- Do you think Azerbaijan can be an example of multiculturalism and interculturalism model for other countries?
- Azerbaijan, and first of all its capital, Baku, is a unique phenomenon. It is a unique environment, which has been forming for centuries, and many peoples have been living together in peace. Of course, that time shouldn’t be idealized. However, in the last decades of the Soviet Union, in the 1960s-1980s, a friendly environment was formed. Heydar Aliyev provided a reasonable policy. All ethnicities felt comfortable in the country. Today the ethnic policy of Azerbaijan is still based on tolerance. Several years ago I arrived in Baku and watched how the republic grew and developed. I think models of inter-ethnic cooperation and cultural development can rely on the Azerbaijani experience.
Interview by Yeugeny Krishtalev. Exclusively to VK.
