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THE MOSLEM WORLD: THEORETICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEMS
KOMIL AVAZOV. INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL THREATS OF MODERNITY, SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE MODERN SOCIETY AND THEIR AFFINITY // The article was presented for the publication in the bulletin Russia and the Moslem World.
Keywords: geopolitics, national idea, ideological threat, ideological vacuum, ideological immunity, security, terrorism, globalization, fanaticism, religious extremism.
Komil Avazov,
Senior teacher,
Institute of Upgrading Teaching Staff in the Surkhandarya Region
As a rule geopolitical goals are concordant with other components of ideological policy. Ideological effect develops into the most influential geopolitical instrument. Distinct political forces mean creation of ideological environment to subordinate to their consciousness interests and thought of diverse social groups particularly the young exercising ideological effect. Ideological threats are peculiar to the modern world of globalization.
Overriding priority of ideological wars is focused on ideological effect and manipulating of public conscience, taking and grip on power, gaining political, military and economic advantage with no regard for states' interests, which come short of economic, political and military might, which can pose the risk of intergovernmental relations.
By spiritual threat it is meant an ideological, informational aggression aimed at any person in spite of language, religion, faith against his liberty, exactly for the purpose of total violation of spiritual peace.
Formation of ideological immunity is a framework for provision of security and stability.
During the speech of the first president of the Republic of Uzbekistan I.A. Karimov said: "An ideological range is hugely more powerful than a nuclear one, and the sake of ideological immunity will lead the world to chaos and poisoning".
A great battle is being held at the ideological range in the whole world. As an example there can be contributed situations in neighbouring countries, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, in countries of former Soviet Union republics-Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova.
The conflicts develop due to a formed ideological vacuum in people's consciousness.
Nomadic peoples got along with sedentary ones, Iranian tribes with Turkic, Muslims with Jews and Christians in some regions for centuries.
Studying the history of intellectual culture of Uzbekistan in the Central Asia it is possible to get sight of an important phenomenon. In the medieval period the development of exact sciences was under way in the region - geography, mathematics, astronomy, medicine. Along with it famous in the Muslim world theologists lived and exercised their talents their, fighting humanistic, moral features of Islam.
Secular sciences and religious attainments didn't counter or contradict each other.
Almost all secular scientists in the region were respectful of theology and many of them were faithful, except in rare circumstances. They admitted spiritual, ethical aspects of Islam, didn't oppose its philosophy, contemplating the outside world in the light of sense and truth.
The process of democratization of public policy life in Uzbekistan produced a supportive environment for establishing distinct parties, movements and organizations for development of their enterprise. All of them far and wide support the activity of Uzbekistan government aimed at maintenance and reinforcement of stability in the society, irreversibility of economic and socio political transformational changes, foundation of a secular state.
As it happens in other young countries, powers resisting elected government may also emerge in Uzbekistan.
The history of the humanity demonstrated the danger of fundamentalism of any kind. Nowadays there are some ideologists who advocate for denial of all positive events, irrecognition of any social norms and rules which are not endorsed by religious zealots.
Diverse sects of Islam in Uzbekistan have inherently been fundamentalistic. Originally professional clandestine structure which was uniformly built, resided all of them. They imposed horrible conditions on their members, focused on irreconcilability and subversion, toppling of secular government.
An analysis of ideological philosophies, organizational structures of different extremist, fundamentalistic religious parties, movements, organizations, judging by their names in Uzbekistan, provides evidence of Wahhabism ideology export. In Uzbekistan they were created by a pattern sometimes only titles of organizations were changed fractionally. Such organizations as "Moslem Brotherhood", "Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami" didn't even change their names.
Islamic movement of Uzbekistan adopted the title from Iraqi and Lebanese ones-IMI, IML, akramia (advocates of faith) -from Iranian organizations, warrior of Islam (Islom lashkarlari) -from "army of Allah" (Syria, Palestine, 60s) and so on.
Attitude of fundamentalists toward authorities: unreconcilable opposition to official powers, overthrowing of their regimes; political and state self-determination of Muslims,
including force in the capacity of jihad, that is creation of a theocratic Islamic state.
However the actual situation in the country with regard to Islam testifies to the contrary. Nowadays in the society it continues to persist a judgment that Islam can introduce people to supreme spiritual, moral and cultural values. Islam keeps being an important component of national consciousness, activating of religious one comes most through pursuit of determinate groups to ritualize.
Radical ideologists of Islam can't suppress secular social development and oust secular view of life, which has longstanding traditions in Uzbekistan. Secularism still holds key positions in life of the society.
On the other hand, vacuum originated in the Central Asia because of an impact of former Soviet ideology and breakdown of religious environment, prepared an opportunity for spreading radical Islamic groups, based on unfamiliar for peoples of the Central Asia religious cultural traditions.
Averting of the threats connected with an influence of radical Islam particularly depends on dynamics of democratization of the society, solving vital socio-economic, ecological, demographic problems, providing such socio-political and economic conditions, which would contribute to harmonization of financial and spiritual person's life. Peace and tranquility, civil consent, religious tolerance, equal participation of exponents of different cultures in public life are a distinguishing feature of modern Uzbekistan, experience of which is of value for strengthening and abetment of interfaith and intercultural dialogue.
Islam Karimov in his book "Our goal is free and prosperous motherland" pointed out the necessity to advance religious literacy of people by spread of knowledge, and for purposes of political and juridical culture promotion for people, preeminently the younger generation, which brings knowledge about legislation, devoted to activity of religious organizations, rights and obligations in this sphere.
In the article of the Constitution of Republic of Uzbekistan it is stated: "It is prohibited the establishment and activity of political parties and other nongovernmental organizations which aim is to change a constitutional form of government by force, campaigning against sovereignty, integrity and security of the Republic, constitutional civil rights and liberties, advocating war, social, ethnic, racial and religious strife, encroaching on health and morality of people, paramilitary forces, political parties on account of their ethnic and religious descent. It is prohibited to form secret societies and associations".
Islam Karimov in response to questions of an executive editor of «Tafakkur» magazine said in 1998: "It is possible to fight against and argue with an idea only by an idea, with a thought -by a thought, with ignorance - only by education. Now when the humankind entered the new millennium, struggle of new and old ideologies gains momentum. Diverse and sometimes completely controversial world views, debates among political, national, religious trends, sects at times go beyond the scope of discussions and results in deadly clashed, mass murder cause disasters for people".
We must raise ourselves in good faith. In the ideological picture of the modern world activity of "ideological ranges" stands out as a growing tendency, waging war by various means affecting consciousness and souls of human beings. Such ideological ranges arise from exacerbating the struggle for seizing people's consciousness and souls, this battle is carried out not by military weapon but primarily by ideological one.
On the territorial principle the world is divided in different regions and continents. These territories have distinct limits. Although by the end of XX century humanity has encountered problems, passing all bounds. Among them such problems as regional, ethno-religious conflicts, on the basis of nationalism and chauvinism, spiritual crisis, drug addiction, terrorism and so on.
Furthermore a number of issues arise in connection with a process of globalization, accelerating information flow. The worst
thing is that there is a range of elements, trying to extend the sphere of their influence by different ideological means, purchase people's consciousness and soul, making entire nations and states follow them. The main principle estimating the ideological world view is just in it.
The term "range" is taken from a Greek word which means "complexity". Range usually involves a specific field where weapon and equipment are tested, where troops are under preparation and military exercises are carried out.
The historical experience has taught that types of military weapons have constantly been improved with a view to seize alien territories or protect own ones.
They were made for annihilation of manpower and facilities of a real or a supposed enemy. Nowadays the ideological range is a world outlook of the whole humankind and every nation. Only a nation with purchased soul and consciousness can be defeated. The notion "ideological range" was first used by I. Karimov in response to questions of the executive editor of "Tafakkur" magazine.
Nowadays a man lives experiencing a permanent influence of spreading from different ideological sources which serve interests of certain states and political powers.
Forming of ideological immunity is determined by compliance with humans nature, way of living and mentality, and the most important- the way it reflects national interests and people's aspirations. Only such an ideology will withstand the test of time and life, people will believe it and accept it as a creed. Only then it will gain spiritual and moral strength and will become more forceful than the most modern weapon.
Achieving our lofty goals, final getting rid of old ideological doctrines, prevention of ideological vacuum, protection against encroachment of unknown ideas, upbringing of full development of the human personality al these claims formation of a new ideology meeting interests of our society. No people understanding its vital objectives, taking the long view
never lived and will never be able to live without national idea and ideology. Any country or society not to mention a person will inevitably miss its way without an idea.
It is important under the current circumstances of overcoming ideological vacuum to provide people with an ideological immunity above all with the younger generation. This job must be done rationally and cautiously in common with an experienced gardener-Aqsaqal who gently and carefully grows young planting stock.
There is no necessity to set forward the increased role of ideology in the contemporary conditions when in an atmosphere of the information explosion and process of globalization certain powers tend to extend the sphere of their influence dividing the space in a battleground. There must be clear the need of taking into account the ideological situation on the ground of the former Soviet Union, conditions in the Central Asian region, importance of filling gaps emerged in the result of refusal of the old ideology with a new ideology of national independence, to react against attempts of foreign ideology and destructive ideas infiltration in Uzbekistan.
The security of one or another region depends not only on internal factors. Sabotage elements within some states, such as separatism, interethnic problems or an impairment of political rights parlay significant geopolitical actors for empowerment. In this context commercial interests are often veiled by political mottos and advancement of Western values.
For today the Central Asian region as a cohesive whole is in practice not prepared for current challenges and risks. Such a state disquiets because according to some forecasts threat to security both in local and universal context will have a steady tendency towards reinforcement, especially in case of a possible conflict around Iran and further uncertainty of Iraqi and Afghan problems. If it occurs under the pressure of internal and external threats serious sabotage consequences may bargain the Central Asia itself.
The Central Asian region is not ready to resist these processes to the full extent. At this point there may be the minimization of negative phenomena in the region. Especially actual may be an activation of interplay among Central-Asian countries. The local actors as the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization could play a decisive role in it.
It is not a secret that every country of the region defines its domestic and foreign policy in their interests, geographical location, commercial reserve, linguistic and cultural affinity with former Soviet Union and other foreign countries. This way such concepts as «neutral pragmatism» come in front of us.
In terms of the national interests there is nothing wrong, although from the point of view of local security it gives rise to concern.
It is absurdly but the Western countries, which are all above in want of the Central-Asian region resources, as in the beginning of 1920s, persist making political demands in the modern world. However an experience of Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and especially Ukraine demonstrated that "color revolutions" cannot be a firing mechanism for development. They push the society for a permanent struggle of political forces for power.
Religious fundamentalism is one of the most commonly encountered destructive ideas and ideologies. Its advocates in defined periods predominated in the West and the East. Now it springs up in diverse forms and different regions. Fundamentalism advocates join around an idea of terrorism, religious extremism by means of warrant for arms and drug traffic. In fact the purpose of fundamentalism and extremism advocates pursued from penetration in the Central Asia, was not the restoring of religious values. Their main goal is to create instability, interregional and interethnic squabbling by using these ideas and ultimately - to seize power. These attempts may lead to irreparable consequences. They want to force in particular
our country into a whirlpool of bloodshed and fratricidal, as it happens in Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan and Syria.
At present time there is a possibility that on the part of religious extremists terrorist attacks may have place in the region.
The leader of Uzbekistan I. Karimov in his work "Uzbekistan on the verge of XXI века: security threat, stability condition and development guarantee" denoted: "Many politicians, scientists, journalists tried to impart their understanding on the grounds of phenomenon which got different names in XX century - "Islamic Renaissance", "re-Islamisation", "phenomenon of Islam" and so on. Not to go into discussion about terms we wish to focus on the fact events going on in the name of Islamic values reappearance are diverse which are sometimes controversial and even dissimilar».
It should be emphasized that Pakistan has recently become more active in the Central Asia. Up to date the only obstacle for rapid development of normal relations was the presence of terrorist groups in cross-border region with Afghanistan endangering the security of the Central Asia and recent attempts to force them out are conceived positively.
This can be confirmed by a concrete agreement signed by Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and Pakistan about railway building from Uzbek Termez to Pakistani Peshawar though Kabul. In return China plans to build a part of the railway which will unite its Western regions with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Rich resources of this region attract not only the Western countries.
It is worth mentioning about the Afghan factor of demoralization. International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan doesn't give weight to local aspects and doesn't have chances for success. It seems that Western countries primarily the USA fight against not terrorists but for the right of retention of their presence in this region as long as possible.
Hence the Afghans tired of waiting any easy ride and life improvement gradually come over to Taliban movement.
Moreover there are propositions that the West spurs the government of Afghanistan into action to make terms with Taliban. Afghanistan can turn into a large-scale trouble spot with returning of Taliban movement to power after coalition forces leaving. Controlled republics of the Central Asia will experience it above all others. In brief, specialists are not optimistic concerning controllability of the regions.
It should be remembered that structure of security in the Central Asia is in developmental stage. For a variety of reasons this process is painful.
First, it claims mutual credit and concessions but heads of states are not always prepared for them. Hence there is another problem: normalization of national interests for all the parties involved. Sometimes they contradict each other.
Policy formulation broadly depends on interests balancing of exterior players which have differing degrees of impact on the regional countries. Solving of tight knot of problems turns on activating of local structures. Security of a particular country is incogitable without its providing in the Central-Asian region in bulk.
Globalization has passed into progressive phenomenon of social life, politics, economy and culture of the recent epoch. Its benefits in all world states should not be forgotten. Although Arab spring started in the second decade of the XXth century in a number of Arab countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Jordan, Syria, Yemen may switch over to other states.
Populism is a delinquency in duties that is a cause for economy shrinking of Morocco, Yemen, Libya what resulted in chaos, disorder and unrest.
The first years of our Republic independence under a mask of Islamic religion advocates of religious fundamentalism started to penetrate, among them "Hizb ut-Tahrir", "Taif", "Tawbah", "Tablighi", "Nurovtsi". They acted with an aim to win minds and souls of the young by teaching supposedly of fundamentals of the Islamic religion, Quran recitation and in the result they were
prepared as people countering current constitutional power. They tried to do harm for the purpose of knocking down the socio-political system created by people in the development of national statehood.
The dream of Islamic fundamentalism is an idea of unanimity to form a state under the auspices of caliphate, a unique empire. However life and imperative of time don't allow running counter to progress of history and humanity. And the nation will not want it.
Nonetheless adherents of this idea continue struggle against legitimacy, the constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, shaped by the nation. Fundamentalists organize in secret political race by unauthorized studies. They spread blackwash as if "Uzbekistan violates religion". They attract the young as wishmasters. Formation of "zombie fighters" is one of the ways of radical religious groups.
Peculiarity of extremists is that they consider only their own ideas and movements to be right. Bigots don't accept other ideas, justify only their views, though they are not right.
This can be evidenced by a movement of bigots Wahabis in Namangan in December 1991, and also establishment of anticonstitutional religious movements "Adolat", "Islom lashkarlari", in some areas "Nur", "Tawbah", sending of the young to Turkey for training terror in 1992, publication of brochures "Jihod" and guidelines for waging partisan war and different literature of an extremist nature, teaching the young in religious schools in Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, training in clandestine and religious centers.
The emergence of the ideological vacuum in the first years of independence served not creative but destructive power for the Republic. That led to undue influence on believers; intolerance to another faith, appearance of religious bigots, exercising influence on not shaped consciousness of young people.
The position of Uzbekistan in the Central Asia is quite specific. In this region Uzbekistan is the most populous sate
(more than 32, 5 million people) has a huge economic and scientific potential. To all this, there is an elaborated particular transition model of market economy which is brought off. In the Central Asia Uzbekistan has a high intellectual potential, is rich in ground and underground resources, labor force. It is a bridge between Europe and Asia, conducts policy of peace, actually maintains political stability.
As we know from history there were many attempts to conquer this land. The quantity of them is not less nowadays. There are used diverse methods of struggle: violence, seizure, terrorism and others. They file ordinary and illiterate people especially the young. More than 10 religious groups nowadays continue clandestine struggle for winning minds of the part of young people.
Why do our ideological enemies recruit into their ranks just the young?
They can be easily deceived. The desire of ideological enemies is to implant their destructive ideas under the guise of teaching religion from an early age. Some young people cannot understand the notion of religious fundamentalism. Current religious extremists under the mask of Islamic religion try to entrap unformed young people with a view to seize the reins of government into their hands. Using them for dark purposes they have a negative impact on our sacred religion.
This way forming of ideological immunity is defined by compliance with people's nature, way of life and thinking, and the most important - the way it reflects national interests and people's aspirations. Only such an ideology can withstand the test of time and life, people will believe it and accept as conviction. Only then it gets spiritual and moral power and will become more powerful than the most modern weapons. With the support of wide audience, intellectuals, scientists and artists, particularly and workers of spiritual educational sphere it is necessary to take to a higher level an activity aimed at perfecting and adoption of principles of national independence ideology in
peoples minds. It should be emphasized the main goal is to turn national idea and ideology of independence into the basis of outlook, spiritual core of every person in our country.
Nowadays at people's disposal there are as many arms and supplies that it is possible to destroy the world a few times. However the most serious danger is a permanent ideological struggle for people's souls and consciousness especially the young. Today fights on ideological front play a pivotal role rather than on nuclear ranges. We should never forget this distasteful truth.
Literature
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