One of the greatest hidden obstacles to democratic transition in the post-Soviet region is the penetration of authoritarian ideologies into the collective consciousness of society. As Antonio Gramsci noted in his concept of ideological hegemony, in an authoritarian system, power is not sustained merely through coercion and legal structures but also through symbols and values that come to be accepted by people as “natural” (Gramsci, 1971).
These codes are not confined to political discourse; they also manifest in school textbooks, in the tone and language of television news, in official ceremonies, and in everyday social behavior. According to Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of habitus, such ideological templates shape individuals’ behavior and create a form of “dual conduct” (Bourdieu, 1977).
For this reason, the process of building democracy must begin with the analysis of these codes—that is, through their critique, exposure, and replacement with alternative meanings. This process should take place in at least three key directions:
Civic Education Based on Critical Thinking
In authoritarian regimes, education is viewed merely as the mechanical transmission of knowledge. According to Paulo Freire, this “banking model” sees the human being as an empty vessel to be filled, thereby reducing the capacity to question and to evaluate to nearly zero (Freire, 1970).
An education system oriented toward building democracy must, on the contrary, cultivate citizens who influence, question, and assess their surroundings as active participants. Curricula should systematically include topics on critical thinking, media literacy, human rights, and political ethics. As Aleida Assmann emphasized in her concept of collective memory, education holds a crucial place in democratic nation-building (Assmann, 2010).
Pluralist Information Sources and a Free Media
Authoritarian regimes maintain their power not only through coercion but also by keeping mass information under control. Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky’s propaganda model explains that the centralized management of the press results in the emergence of a one-dimensional pattern of thought within society (Chomsky, 1988). Authoritarian governance deliberately reproduces this model.
Democracy, by contrast, arises from a pluralist media environment. This does not simply mean presenting “objective news.” It also means creating an environment where diverse perspectives and differing opinions can be heard—where people can express and discuss alternative ideas with one another.
Critique and Exposure of Authoritarian Rituals
Authoritarian regimes also reinforce their power through rituals and symbols. Parades, medals, omnipresent portraits of the leader, and “oaths of loyalty to the state” are not mere ceremonies. As Clifford Geertz noted in his concept of the theater state, such performances serve as platforms through which power continuously re-legitimizes itself (Geertz, 1973).
These rituals aim to shape public perception and suppress critical thought. Therefore, they must be openly discussed and deconstructed in public debates, exposing the hidden messages embedded within them.
The experiences of post-Soviet countries clearly show that the persistence of leaders’ portraits, the continued celebration of Soviet-era holidays in their original form, and the maintenance of military parades as demonstrations of legitimacy all prevent the emergence of profound ideological transformation within society (Yurchak, 2005).
Conclusion
Of course, democratic consolidation becomes possible only when the country’s key elites, institutions, and broader public internalize democratic norms, principles, and practices. For this, the establishment of effective political institutions (especially political parties, the judiciary, and parliament), the decentralization of power to regional and local levels, and the strengthening of civil society are essential.
However, democracy is not merely a system of governance. It is also about our way of thinking—about which symbols we believe in and how we, as a society, respond to events. Democracy cannot be achieved simply by changing laws or creating new structures. If authoritarian ideology continues to live within the society, then all reforms undertaken will remain largely performative—they may be visible but will not have a lasting effect.
As Gramsci wrote, the old system may not yet be fully gone, but the new one has not yet emerged. In such a situation, we remain trapped in what he called an interregnum—a period of vacuum—when crises become more frequent.
In the Azerbaijani context, an important step toward developing democratic habits is the restoration of public dialogue. This means rebuilding the capacity for people to exchange opinions freely and safely—both in social media and in everyday life—as an integral part of our culture.
Although difficult in an environment where information and initiatives are entirely controlled by the state, such efforts can begin within smaller social spaces—at universities, community gatherings, independent media platforms, and civic initiatives.
Democracy becomes possible only when we can change our ways of thinking, renew our symbols, build shared consciousness, and integrate democratic practices into our everyday lives. Only then can a new system truly emerge.
Thus, for Azerbaijan, the process of democratic consolidation must begin with changing behavior itself.
References:
Gramsci, Antonio 1971. Selections from the Prison Notebooks. New York: International Publishers, 1971. P 133-141 https://ia600506.us.archive.org/19/items/AntonioGramsciSelectionsFromThePrisonNotebooks/Antonio-Gramsci-Selections-from-the-Prison-Notebooks.pdf
Bourdieu, Pierre 1977. Outline of a Theory of Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1977. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/outline-of-a-theory-of-practice/193A11572779B478F5BAA3E3028827D8
Assmann, Aleida 2010. Cultural Memory and Western Civilization: Functions, Media, Archives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. https://www.cambridge.org/cz/universitypress/subjects/history/regional-and-world-history-general-interest/cultural-memory-and-early-civilization-writing-remembrance-and-political-imagination?format=PB&isbn=9780521188029
Noam Chomsky. 1988. Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media. New York: Pantheon Books. https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=894977
Geertz, Clifford 1973. The Interpretation of Cultures. https://web.mit.edu/allanmc/www/geertz.pdf
Yurchak, Alexei 2005. Everything Was Forever, Until It Was No More: The Last Soviet Generation. Princeton: Princeton University Press. https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691121178/everything-was-forever-until-it-was-no-more?srsltid=AfmBOooMkq_dmzGUoQX8JfFi9fXwHCg1_UxQhHG6OenZ1hB2ap5kwEqq
