Democratization in the South Caucasus: Experiences, Obstacles, and Possibilities for Change
The former Soviet states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia provide insight into the process of democratic transition.
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Democratization in the South Caucasus: Experiences, Obstacles, and Possibilities for Change
Everybody knows what democracy is. But what is democratization? It refers to the process of making the state “democratic.” It is the process, not the state, of a democratic society. This process applies to states in the process of transition, and in particular to the states of the South Caucasus—Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia in this context—which are on their way to becoming democratic societies. The process of democratization in these states can be described by the cyclic model of democratic transition, which is mostly typical of developing countries in which authorities display a positive attitude towards democracy.
Understanding the bases of democracy is most important for the start of the democratization process. Certain features must be present if the process is to be successful, but are they realized in fact?
What do we mean when we say “democratization”? First of all, it is the process of making society free, which includes implementing the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, political freedom, freedom of choice, freedom of action, freedom of assembly, free trade, and a group of such freedoms as the protection of human rights, self-government, the right of each nation to free development and equality, legality, publicity, and a fair electoral system.
However, unfortunately all these characteristics are very often only imitated in the above-mentioned states. The reason lies first of all in the historical development of these states. As we know Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia were once part of the Soviet Union, where such kinds of freedom were prohibited. The process is going on and there is some improvement, but at the same time there are many obstacles on the path to democratization in these states.
Inequality in the masses of population can also be considered a huge problem on the road to democratization for the states of the South Caucasus. Because the greatest part of the population live in bad conditions, they are far from possessing even the the basic necessities of life. The high level of corruption, which is closely connected with inequality among the population, and other obstacles prevent democratization from moving forward. There may be groups of people in these states who are concerned with this problem, but very often their voices cannot be heard. This is the problem of democratization in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Free-market relationships are also lacking here, because the greatest part of the economy is monopolized, which is unacceptable for these countries that have chosen democratization as their way of development.
Yes, we can say that there is a formal multiparty system in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, but it is an artificial phenomenon. Dissidence is still punished, and the majority in the parliaments is formed by the ruling party, and this becomes an endless process because the authorities possess the administrative means to make it so. Intimidating the sources of alternative information is also “normal” in such states. Even if there is some kind of objection by the groups which really strive for democratization, even by authorities, it is a sham, put on to show that they are doing their jobs.
Democratization is not an easy process, and the process becomes more difficult because for many years Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia were integral parts of the Soviet Union, which rejected any kind of democratic development. Now these states are trying to develop democratic institutions within their countries, and the European community tries to “make” them become democratic because all three countries are now members of European structures, and parts of the Eastern Partnership launched by the European Union. The involvement of these countries in various programs offered by the EU implies democratic development, private enterprise, and the promotion of human rights in their societies. However, the process is moving very slowly.
Actually there are groups of people in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia who are proponents of democracy. But at the same time there are those, especially those in power, who do not need democratization, who gain much from their power and do not wish for anything else. In collaborating with European structures and other external bodies, they try to create an atmosphere of total excellence and appear to be working to fulfil their responsibilities, but in fact they do nothing. In reality, the citizens are not protected, their rights can be violated at any time, and in general the citizens are frightened or just disappointed of appealing for any appropriate help.
In fact, there are differences among the states of the South Caucasus as well. For example, it is important to note that Georgia is much farther ahead in its democratic development because of its goal of European integration and its appropriate values. These supplement each other, and the process of democratization cannot go ahead if either of these bases is absent. For example, Armenia holds values similar to Europeans’, but the real goal of European integration has become obvious only recently with the launch of the Eastern Partnership.
The situation is a little different concerning Azerbaijan. Here, there are practically no values that match those of Europeans. In fact, Azerbaijan is part of another, very strong and huge Muslim civilization, which must not be ignored in this context.
It is very important that Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia include the experience of other nations in the process of democratization, by adapting it to local values, mentalities, and ethnic and religious circumstances of their countries, in order not to make the situation worse. Meanwhile the peculiarities of each region, each country, and each society should not be ignored when speaking about democratization.
The former Soviet republics have had independence for more than fifteen years, but during this long period they have not even managed to form a system which could guarantee democratization. This is why the so-called democratic systems in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia can be called only imitations of democracy. So, in reality, what is needed is to reform the whole structure of authority in these states, which is not an easy process. European countries also needed a lot of time to achieve what they have today: total protection and security, free-market economy, free elections. The experience of such leading states as the European countries must be taken not only as a goal for the above-mentioned states, but also as instructive for not repeating mistakes. Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan were once part of the Soviet Union. And now Russia, the legal heir of the USSR, tries to keep these countries under its protection and not allow any other influences on them. But it is no longer easy. The former Soviet republics no longer want to be dependent. They want to live in free societies, and the citizens in these societies want their rights to be protected.
Concerning Armenia, it may be the most dependent state in the South Caucasus on Russia, because of its isolation. Meanwhile Armenia is involved in the Eastern Partnership initiative of the EU, and is a member of the Council of Europe. So Armenia has several responsibilities concerning democratization, though at the moment they are realized only partially and are more like imitations.
There could be broader cooperation between European institutions, on the one hand, and Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia on the other hand, based on the results of a real democratization process. But monopoly, corruption, and deception still exist in these countries. In the South Caucasus, a real potential for democratization can be found, but it is not enough. It is more important to have the will, which is very often lacking. It is very important for Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to realize what they can gain from democratization. But because it is not in favor of some groups, and mainly of authorities and oligarchs, the process of democratization appears in deadlock and not in a likely position, unfortunately. In reality, much depends on the historical development of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia which has impeded their democratic development. But meanwhile common efforts accompanied with society’s support can do a lot in the process of democratization.
Nevertheless, it is necessary to be prudent towards the process of democratization in these countries, not to allow it to turn into a hybrid like “democratura” or “dictocracy.” The citizens need to gain control of the means to make their voices heard, to form a real democratic society step by step. And it is not only the struggle between authorities and opposition that can have a great role in democratization, but also the struggle among different wings of the authorities, which in its turn will let each of them suggest something new, try to satisfy the society and not to make the society be dependent on them. It is important for both authorities and opposition to realize their responsibility towards their citizens. It is important that citizens are not used merely as instruments for obtaining power. And it is necessary to provide citizens with the rights they must have as the owners of power in their country, as in all truly democratic states.
Encouraging relationships between state bodies and NGOs is also important in the process of democratization. But the mere existence of such relationships is not enough to form a democratic society. It is very important to develop close cooperation between authorities and NGOs, and to involve NGOs in the decision-making process in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
Youth can also have a great role in the process of democratization in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. It is natural for young people to want to live in a free society, defend their rights, and have the right to express themselves. So, very often youth form nongovernmental organizations, in order to have the opportunity to influence the authorities. And actually in the states of South Caucasus there are many youth NGOs which try to promote the democratic development of their states. And this is a great step forward.
Democratic society is a cradle of tolerance. Tolerance is one of the important points of the democratization process, and can be very useful when speaking about internal relations among different minorities in Azerbaijan and Georgia, among different groups in the societies, and in general, among the people of these countries.
Meanwhile, let’s not forget about educational programs, a no less important component of the process of democratization. Different educational programs can have their positive impact on this process, because due to their success tolerance and respect towards one another—values considered to be the highest in a democratic society—are cultivated in the minds of citizens, making the societies they live in more tolerant and democratic. So there is a necessity to encourage such educational programs in respective states.
Nowadays authorities are powerful due to their administrative control, but this cannot be considered the only source of their power. In reality, they need the support of the citizens, which implies the democratic base of the society. So the support and power of the citizens are the most important bases for the creation of a democratic society. No society, no powerful state based on fear can survive long. The authorities need to regain the trust of their citizens and give them their rights to be heard and to feel protected. And this can happen in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia only through democracy. So there is a real necessity to continue the process of democratization in the South Caucasus.
It is interesting to remember the words of Josef Brodsky, the poet and Nobel Prize winner, who once wrote that “a free man, when he fails, blames nobody.” This applies to the citizens of democracy too, because finally they must take responsibility for their own actions and for the society which they have chosen. It is better than being the servants of others. Even in societies with an inborn desire to freedom, there is a necessity to practice democracy. So in order to move ahead and not live as the servants of others, it’s necessary to continue the process of democratization in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, and then to practice democracy with the aim of getting the best results.