On 24 October Nakhchivan Teachers Institute held a presentation ceremony of the university textbook “Azerbaijani Multiculturalism”.

The Pro-rector of the Institute on Educational Work Akif Imanli spoke at the presentation and stated that the course on multiculturalism has been taught at higher educational establishments for some years already and that the textbook “Azerbaijani Multiculturalism” is a great asset to both teachers and students in the study of this subject.

The Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan Artegin Salamzadeh pointed out that multiculturalism is a lifestyle and state policy in Azerbaijan. It has no alternative. Today Azerbaijan is presenting to the world its rich model of multiculturalism which has passed through the filter of many centuries. In this field our country has a rich experience based on ancient history.

It was noted that the study of the cultural, political, social essence of Azerbaijan’s traditions of tolerance, the analysis of the tolerant foundations of the religious diversity in the Republic on the scientific plane and their maintenance, the presentation of our country’s multicultural achievements to the world community, rendering of support to the maintenance of the historical, cultural and religious monuments are among the main priorities of this policy. The textbook “Azerbaijani Multiculturalism” plays a part of a valuable source in instilling multicultural values in the youth.

It was stated that the book “Azerbaijani Multiculturalism” to be taught at our country’s universities has been developed under the scientific editorship of the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism, Rector of Azerbaijan University of Languages, Academician Kamal Abdulla and Chief Adviser of the Department of Interethnic Relations, Multiculturalism and Religious Affairs of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Professor Etibar Najafov. The book consists of Introduction, three sections and seven chapters. The textbook is intended for university students in Azerbaijan and abroad who attend the course “Azerbaijani Multiculturalism”, MA and PhD students as well as those who are interested in the basic issues of the model of Azerbaijani multiculturalism. The book has over 40 co-authors including some contributors who are not Azerbaijani citizens. The textbook is the outcome of the joint efforts of the outstanding scholars in Azerbaijani history, literature, philosophy, law, psychology, our country’s modern policy, language, ethnography and international relations.

The first section of the textbook, which constitutes its introductory part for its content, elucidates the subject matter, methods of the course “Azerbaijani Multiculturalism”, its correlation with other social sciences, main functions and importance alongside with a number of significant issues on multiculturalism. The main part of the textbook is presented in the second and third sections. The second section introduces multiculturalism as Azerbaijan’s state policy and our people’s lifestyle. It also analyses such important issues as “Multicultural Security and Its Main Principles”, “The Azerbaijanianism and Multiculturalism”. The third section presents some important points on multiculturalism in Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. This section shows multiculturalism as a factor of the country’s successful foreign policy. It analyses the initiative “Baku Process” which has lately entered the political lexicon and implies the development of the dialogue among different cultures. Also, it elucidates the role of Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the implementation of the policy of multiculturalism, deals with the activities of Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism in the advocacy and promotion of Azerbaijan’s model of multiculturalism in the world.

The Head of the Analytics Department of Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism Rashad Ilyasov also spoke about the textbook “Azerbaijani Multiculturalism” at the event and noted that the chapters of the textbook contain broad information on multicultural security in Azerbaijan’s internal and external policy as well as literary-artistic sources of multiculturalism in our culture.

The Head of the Press Service of Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism Yadigar Mammadli pointed out in his speech that Azerbaijan’s being historically a multicultural and tolerant country, the rise of multiculturalism here to the level of the national lifestyle, also the implementation of great projects by the state in the maintenance of ethnic-cultural diversities in society have turned Azerbaijan into one of the centres of multiculturalism in the world. The lexicon has accepted some terms like “the Azerbaijani model of multiculturalism”, “Azerbaijani multiculturalism”. The international interest in the progressive experience of Azerbaijan in multiculturalism is increasing. The recent introduction of the course “Azerbaijani Multiculturalism” in a number of Azerbaijani and foreign university curriculums is bright indicator of it. The textbook “Azerbaijani Multiculturalism” is a great asset to teachers and students in the study of this subject.

It should be noted that on that day the Writers’ Union of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic held a presentation of the journal “Multiculturalism”. The Chairman of the Writers’ Union Asim Yadigar, the Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan Artegin Salamzadeh, the Head of the Analytics Department of Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism Rashad Ilyasov, the Head of the Press Service of Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism Yadigar Mammadli, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the journal “Multiculturalism” Tahir Kazimli as well as some writers and poets of the Autonomous Republic spoke at the presentation ceremony.

Запись The Textbook “Azerbaijani Multiculturalism” Is a Valuable Source in Instilling Multicultural Values впервые появилась Baku International Multiculturalism Centre.