Azerbaijan - The first democratic and secular Republic in the Islamic world

[Araz]

[Tiberios]

Yeah well. It didn't come to much though.

[Araz]

Yeah well. It didn't come to much though.

Unlucky to have Russians at your borders, specially during that period.

But the point is there, the idea was formed even before many Western nations.

[Tiberios]

Unlucky to have Russians at your borders, specially during that period.

Indeed

But the point is there, the idea was formed even before many Western nations.

What idea? Secularism or democracy? Because both were quite strong in Europe eventhough some Governments were still autocratic.

[Tiberios]

What idea? Secularism or democracy? Because both were quite strong in Europe eventhough some Governments were still autocratic.

Anyway, as you say Araz, the Republic of Turkey was declared in 1923.

Well the ADR might have been an early republic but several, if not most European states were simply Constitutional monarchies with parliamentary democracy. The only dictatoships in Europe in 1918 I can come up with would be Austria-Hungary, Germany and Russia/Bolscheviks.

[Armenum]

Yeah well. It didn't come to much though.

this.

[The Noble Lord]

Historically it is correct that Azerbaijan was the first Muslim country to "adopt" democracy and practice it for a while. Unfortunately it didn't last long because the external factors were just too strong and Azeris couldn't do much.

[removeduser_4536284751384]

definitely not the first.

What about Lebanon and Turkey? What about Egypt?

But the point is there, the idea was formed even before many Western nations.

secular democracy has existed longer than Islam, so no.

[Araz]

definitely not the first.

What about Lebanon and Turkey? What about Egypt?

secular democracy has existed longer than Islam, so no.

After Azerbaijan (1918) comes Turkey (1923).

[removeduser_4536284751384]

Here we talk about modern parliamentary republic form of governance.

"modern" parliamentary republics have existed in "western" nations since the United Provinces was formed in 1581. In antiquity most of the middle mediterranean had democracies.

and why are you restricting this to parliamentary republics? Presidential republics have mayn advantages.

[CiviC]

Azerbaijan democratic?

[Their Law]

Azerbaijan democratic?

My sentiments exactly.

Claiming to have something in name is allot different to practising it in reality.

[Araz]

Azerbaijan democratic?

My sentiments exactly.

Claiming to have something in name is allot different to practising it in reality.

This is about 1918-1920 Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. And today's Azerbaijan are sucessor of 1918 Republic.

[Their Law]

Funny ignorant posts.

This is about 1918-1920 Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. And today's Azerbaijan are sucessor of 1918 Republic.

Mind pointing out the ignorance, i stated that what a nation claims to represent and what it practices in reality are two vastly different things. Or you'd expect the USA to have abolished slavery in 1779.

To give credit where credit is due, they did constitutionally invoke universal suffrage before most European nations. That is an achievement.

[Araz]

When women could vote in Azerbaijan (1918), there was no such thing in most of Europe.

And to Their Law, 1918 Republic was as democratic as it gets. Here we don't talk about modern situation in Azerbaijan. Since your saying " i stated that what a nation claims to represent and what it practices in reality are two vastly different things". However, this is about 1918-1920 Republic.

[Their Law]

When women could vote in Azerbaijan (1918), there was no such thing in most of Europe.

And to Their Law, 1918 Republic was as democratic as it gets. Here we don't talk about modern situation in Azerbaijan.

As we've just acknowledged.

The republic lasted two years. To be honest we don't have a decent length of time to see what it's characteristics were. I'm not demeaning it, on paper it is an incredibly democratic country, it adopted a voting system that my country still hasn't got round to implementing.

[Araz]

As we've just acknowledged.

The republic lasted two years. To be honest we don't have a decent length of time to see what it's characteristics were.

Besides the Musavat majority, Ehrar, Ittihad, Muslim Social-democrats as well as representatives of Armenian (21 out of 120 seats[2]), Russian, Polish, Jewish and German minorities gained seats in the parliament. Some members supported Pan-Islamist and Pan-Turkist ideas[6].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbai...ratic_Republic

About your question of how democratic it actually was in practice.

[Tiberios]

When women could vote in Azerbaijan (1918), there was no such thing in most of Europe.

I don't think anyone has denied that.

[removeduser_4536284751384]

When women could vote in Azerbaijan (1918), there was no such thing in most of Europe.

yes there was.

most European countries were allowing that from 1903 onwards.

[Their Law]

I'm aware of Azerbaijan's recent history as i have had the misfortune to have participated in at least three Armenia vs Azerbaijan threads.

But within the context of you're thread topic it is a commendable achievement. It's a pity it seemed to be a flash in the pan in Azerbaijan's history. Certainly when you compare it to today's government.