Shahin Bagirov was born in 1966. He graduated from the Economics faculty of Moscow Corporative University.  Since 2003, he has been an associate in Political Science and Political Sociology department of the Institute of Philosophy and Law of the National Academy of Sciences. At present, he is a leading scientist of the institute.  In 2007, he defended his dissertation on “Political aspects of civil society building in Azerbaijan” at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Azerbaijan Republic. Shahin Bagirov is a doctorate of philosophy in political science. His doctoral dissertation “Political aspects of elite issue in Azerbaijan within globalization process” is on the process of completion. An assistant professor with three monographies, he also teaches in higher schools.

–  Mr. Bagirov, each of us has to do something for solving the Karabakh problem. In this regard, what is required from an average PhD?

–  A famous statement engraved on the former US president  John Kennedy’s tombstone says ”Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country?!”. Of course, the resolution of Karabakh conflict lies a great responsibility on the shoulders of every Azerbaijani, in particular our intelligentsia…  Especially, people who  are engaged in political science are required to educate population, pursue the process consequently, watch the Armenian media, mute it by all possible means, present creative ideas in media and social networks, open discussions  at dispute level and participate there …

-As a PhD in political sciences, in which international events have you come across the scientists of the country that occupied 20 percent of our lands?

– Actually, except for international meetings organized in our country, none of our activities is notably transparent… Certainly, in this case, swelling of financial state would touch the spot! We wish we could take part in international events… There is no need to explain the financial situation of scholars. However, we observe our counterparts, politicians and political scientists taking floor in world-wide events, sometimes we can build debates regarding this activity and share our views and recommendations.

– How would you evaluate the Armenian scientists’ activities within the framework of your areas of academic interest?

– Their activities are obvious. Either in my own area of interest or in other field, the Armenian trait becomes apparent… The Armenian civil society institutions seem quite active. And their historians do not give up their traditional falsifications. There is a well-known Armenian historian, whose name I cannot remember at the moment, notes that Armenians should be thankful not to their people that created a history, but to their historians who set up their history. A rascal population that committed genocide against the neighboring people 4 times in a century still continues nasty deeds. How would we evaluate injustice, meanness, forgery that have become chronic for a nation and its scholar?

– Your pedagogical activity has enabled you to learn about our contemporary youth`s awareness of the Armenian aggression. What do they know about it?

–  The auditorium has its own features… it is boring… However, we try to take away a pessimist spirit among young people. With adequate historical information, we are able to melt harmful stereotypes in our youth… It encourages me a lot… As if I feel a need of youth and fill a special gap… Nevertheless, we should not forget the preparedness of our young either. There are a lot of well-prepared, patriotic and developing young people… I consider that the youth has done a considerable job in some cases. I hear good news about them from various countries.

– Lastly, we would like to hear your recommendations to 1905.az.

– I would recommend you to be different. It is necessary to get what we don’t have. Many online websites serve as repeated information providers today. It is important to form the readers` taste, not to spoil. As a person who knows you very well, I believe that you will be able to do it… Good luck!

-Thank you Mr. Shahin Bagirov.

Fuad Babayev

1905.az