Free Minds in Azerbaijan

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Free Minds in Azerbaijan
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Where is Azerbaijan?
Former Soviet Union country Border countries A
rmenia, Georgia, Iran, Russia
Population 8,120,247 Predominantly Muslim pop
ulation with Russian Orthodox and Jewish
community Has an unresolved conflict with Armen
ia Number one export is oil and gas Corruptio
n is widespread
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Azerbaijan
Although Azerbaijan has been a country with
tolerance, free trade and diversity thrived in
the cross-roads of civilizations and became
famous for the firsts in the Muslim world-
First Democracy among Muslim countries in 1918-
First Girls School in 1901- First Female
Actor in 1912- First Opera in 1908
today it is a country with the most corrupted r
egime where property rights, the rule of law and
individual liberty do not exist at all.
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Azerbaijan in statistics
To better understand the situation in Azerbaijan,
it is enough to look up the Index of Economic
Freedom where Azerbaijan is considered as Mostly
Unfree where the judiciary is the least
developed branch of government and judicial and
police corruption is widespread.In the
Transparency International, Azerbaijan is ranked
as one of the most corrupt countries in the
world, 137th on a list of 158 together with
countries like Iraq, Uzbekistan and
LiberiaFreedom House Index, Azerbaijan is Not
Free, where a broad range of freedoms are
systematically denied and scored equally with
countries such as Cuba, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan,
etc.
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Some Problems of Azerbaijan
What are the root of the problems today?
Rentier state Oil Curse (economically and
politically) Soviet LegacyAccumulation of
political and economic powers under one
centreManipulation of the conflict with Armenia
Police state with a strong security
back-upLack of taxpayer influence Because the
state has a huge amount of oil revenues, it is
not dependent on taxpayers moneyMonopoly on
ideasLack of ideological choice
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Free Minds of Azerbaijan
Free Minds Association was established as an
educational think tank who see the root of the
problems in todays Azerbaijan and have been
inspired by the liberal ideas. Our objectives
are- To promote a vision of a free society
based upon individual liberty, private property
rights and limited government under the rule of
law - To teach people about institutions
required to develop a free society and their
impact on average Azerbaijani citizen - To
contribute to discussions about Azerbaijans
political and economic problems from a liberal
perspective
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Free Minds Activities
We work mainly with the youth because young peop
le never rationalize their bondage under
oppression, nor do they generally accept, as
given, the impossibility of change.
Young people have an instinct to know truth from
falsehood and right from wrong and it is this
intellectual clarity that motivates them.
These are the AGENTS OF CHANGE for tomorrow.
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Free Minds Activities
- Run student-oriented seminars in
Azerbaijan- Identify potential interns from the
most promising program participants- Organize
trainings for young professionals - Translate
and publish books to give an opportunity to
Azerbaijani readers to explore works in the
classical liberal intellectual tradition -
Create a good network with the local media-
Publish well researched, academic and easily
accessible papers making them available to
public, colleges and journalists- National
Debate School- Organize freedom parties -
Open Air University, brochures, sms campaigns,
etc.
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Forthcoming Activities
- Energy Security project with IBL in Italy and
Transatlantic Institute in the UK-- Economic
Education Program in rural Azerbaijan-
Symposium of liberals living in Turkic-speaking
countries, in partnership with Association for
Liberal Thinking in Turkeyand more seminars,
translations and internship programs
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Hopes for cooperation
Acceptance of Free Minds to participation in
seminars and other educational programs-
Helpful visits to Azerbaijan by distinguished
scholars and experts- YOUR active support to the
friends of freedom in this region