Faiq Alakbarov was born in 1977. He has graduated from Baku State University. During the years 2001-2004 Faiq was a PhD candidate of the Institute of Philosophy and Political-Legal Studies at the ANAS (Azerbaijan National Academy of Science). In 2005 he obtained a PhD in phylosophy, defending the dissertation titled “Mammad Amin Rasulzade’s role and palce in the history of socio-political and philosophical thought of the XX century Azerbaijan.”

He is the author of two monographies (“The worldview of Mahammad Amin Rasulzade”, Baku-2007; “The historical-philosophical view on the national ideology problem” (part I), Baku-2011, “The historical-philosophical view on the national ideology problem” (part II), Baku-2014), a manual (“The management theory”, Baku, 2012, co-author), and more than 40 scholarly articles. He conducts researches in the fields such as national-idea (Azerbaijanism, Turkism, Islamism, Modernization and etc) national-identity, national-thought and in other similar areas.

In the present moment he is a senior researcher, PhD in phylosophy and assistant professor at the Department of the “History of philosophy and social thought” of the Institute of Philosophy and Law affiliated with the ANAS, He also acts as an instructor in numerous universities (ASPU, Scientific and Educational center “Tafakkur” a.o). Additionally, he writes scholarly and philosophical-ideologist articles for various newspapers (“Turkustan”, “Camiyyat ve din” (Society and Religion)) and web-sites (modern.az, bao.az, turansesi.com ana etc).

As the first question, let me ask you what did a PhD degree give you?

Firstly it taught me the scientific sacrificing, to struggle against the bureaucratic obstacles. It became clear that to write a thesis in Azerbaijan is much easier than to deal with its formal documentation work. But in fact it should be the opposite, it means, the scientific essence and innovation of thesis should be in the first place, while the documentary work must be easier. For obtaining a PhD in philosophy, besides the published articles in Azerbaijan, you are also suggested to have published articles in certain foreign scientific journals. The strange thing is that, HAC (the High Attestation Committee) changes the list of the journals approved for the publications almost every year. All these matters are directly related to the financial capabilities. It is very hard to meet your private expenses and be conduct researches using the budget allocated for academic activities in Azerbaijani. The problems get multiplied in case you are relatively younger.

All in all, a doctoral title gave me so little economically but, so much in terms of self-assertion.

The main reason behind the lack of progresses, despite the fact that plenty of laws have been adopted in the field of science, mostly resulted from the implementation of the Soviet-period standards by high ranking-officals. Unfortunately influential academic figures who admire the scientific and educational system of the USSR are associated with its demerits. Especially those negative sides that deny the science as a free sphera, avoid the objective ideas, and prefer to act under the dictatorship of other.

Now, one of the traditional questions of our rubric, what should every person to do to contribute to do solution of the Karabakh problem? In this term, what is supposed an average PhD in philosophy to do to this end?

The solution of the Karabakh problem is up to us, in the first place. Every Azerbaijani has to understand that he/she has to make efforts for the solution of the Karabakh problem within the interests of Azerbaijan. Everybody has to feel the responsibility. That’s why the main task of scholars, including philosophers in our society has to be the formation of public opinion. It means they have to assure the members of society about the importance of their position and will, in terms of problem’s solution. Moreover, they also have to strenghten the self-confidence in intelligentsia and assure them about their pivotal role in a problem such as Karabakh, as every victory is closely related to the level of national consciousness.

Have you met Armenian scientists in any international event? What can you say about their science and “science”?

I have come across the Armenian scientists in international events abroad, but I have not had any dialog with them. Even though I have watched few Armenian scientists live or followed through the media, I have felt the self-confidence in them. Even when they (Armenians) talk about something that has been falsified in all 100%, they do it with such a confidence that; it almost does not awake any suspects. For instance “Armenian genocide” is a sobering example in this case. Independently on if we may like it or no they learn the “science” with the hatred against the Turkism and express it in international conferences. But the hatred against the Turkism is only a part of this science. The other part is to get Azerbaijani and Turkish lands with the support of the USA, Russia and EU. By the way they realize it in considered and professional ways. They have even succeeded in to form an “Armenian history”, “Armenian Geography” and even an “Armenian Philosophy” in the world.

Let us talk about the researches of the young scientist Faiq Alakbarov.

My main research topic is national ideology (Azerbaijanism, Turkism, Islamasim, Modernity and other) national idea, national identity, national consciousness and other relevant fields, because the most failing part of Azerbaijan’s science is actually the above listed examples. The fact is, nowadays there are many who write about it but a few of them consists the right context and modernity. I think the reevaluation of the Turkism, Islamism and modernity is necessary in these days. By taking it in consideration I have done researches in the last 10 years. I have written more than 10 articles and one 2-chaptered monography, untitled “The historical-philosophic view to the national ideology problems“. The last part of the monography will be published this year. The main research question of this monography is to determine the place of Azerbaijani Turkism within the context of the values of the West and East.  The researches are under way in this subject.

What are the plans?

My main plan for now is to research the idea of the “Turkish philosophy” and to develop it further. The Turkish philosophy is an actual reality for the development of the Azerbaijani Turkism. We also have had consultations with the Turkish scientists during my visit to Turkey. They also highly appreciated my ideas regarding the philospohy of Turkism. By taking everything into account, my main goal in the near future is to conduct researches concerning “The history of Turkish philosophy” and to complete a scientific work under the same name.

Good luck!

1905.az