Statisticians like to sum things up by juggling numbers. Of course, this methodology has not been abolished. Moreover, statistics are facts that make it possible to conduct the necessary analysis and help develop effective managerial decisions to address existing problems. In other words, without analysis, statistics are just numbers. It is analysis that gives these numbers meaning and substance.
The sphere of politics and international relations also requires an итоговый, or comprehensive, assessment. This is necessary at the very least to identify existing global trends. Naturally, summing up a political year has its own methodological specifics. It is worth noting that, in the field of public administration, this process in itself already constitutes a separate political instrument.
Even with colossal administrative resources at hand, such a model of governance as “faced a threat, eliminated it, and calmed down” no longer works. This mechanism cannot guarantee sustainable development. Such vital state objectives as efficiency, sustainability, and security today quite literally require replacing the content of the above formula with: “anticipate a threat and neutralize any prerequisites that could, in the future, become sources of various stresses.” Thus, in the age of information technologies, effective public administration must, first and foremost, be future-oriented. An inertial method of governance is doomed to failure from the outset. That is why analytics must be a priority within the system of state governance. Otherwise, the “system” will be capable only of self-defense, and no growth can be discussed. It is no coincidence that even a brief analysis allows one to say that the state policy of President Ilham Aliyev is preventive in nature: it is designed for the future.
It is absolutely clear why the “superpowers” over recent decades have so jealously guarded their superiority precisely in the field of analytics. They not only protect their primacy in this area, but also do everything to ensure that the methods they propose form the basis of public administration in countries around the world. One may venture to suggest that this hides the reasons behind many of the trends we observe today.
When summing up a political year, limiting oneself to bare numbers is like memorizing the multiplication table but being unable to use it to solve concrete mathematical problems. Professional political analysis requires definitions in which the strategy of a state’s political behavior becomes visible. Focusing attention on isolated details can distract us from meaning-forming elements, and then we will be unable not only to adequately assess the situation, but also to see the entire political picture as a whole. Incidentally, this principle underlies almost all illusions performed by magicians: distract the audience’s attention and then carry out the trick.
Therefore, without any “tricks,” that is, without diverting attention to individual details, let us identify the key political achievements of the past year. In 2025, despite endless provocations, Azerbaijan, in every sense, managed to strengthen its position as a victorious country. In terms of achievements, this factor is perhaps the most fundamental and decisive. Moreover, thanks to the diplomatic skill of the head of state, Azerbaijan prevented revanchist tendencies in Armenia. From now on, any activity by official Yerevan in this direction will be assessed by the international community exclusively as a manifestation of revanchism. Thanks to the political rhetoric of Ilham Aliyev, what once united the entire Armenian nation — “revanchism” — today hangs over Armenian statehood like a sword of Damocles.
The policy of “double standards” pursued by certain international organizations, which continues to be applied to our country, has failed to exert any tangible influence on Azerbaijan’s international status. Yes, this policy remains the main instrument of pressure, but nothing more than that. The political will and principled stance of the president proved stronger than various insinuations by international organizations. Moreover, it was precisely these qualities that made it clear that Azerbaijan, within the system of international relations, claims equal partnership rather than the status of a “junior brother.”
The past year was also highly active in terms of domestic political processes. Thanks to initiatives by the authorities, we witnessed the development of democratic skills in political dialogue. Political parties played an active role in this process. Over this period, we even managed to get used to the fact that 11 political parties are represented in the country’s parliament. This fact alone already serves as evidence of a deepening of democratic relations. Yes, we may be dissatisfied with someone in particular, but the fact remains: 11 opposition parties are represented in the National Assembly of the country. This is precisely what the evolutionary method of developing democracy consists of.
One must also not forget that the political dialogue initiated by the authorities teaches all participants in the political process such a fundamental skill as the ability to reach agreements. It is this ability that constitutes a foundational factor in the development of democracy. And if one takes into account the fact that before learning to negotiate, it is necessary to learn to tolerate one another, then the role of an atmosphere of dialogue in politics acquires paramount importance. Thus, over the past year we have witnessed the beginning of a change in the public status of the opposition and the secular image of this political institution.
Yes, these are complex processes that require the formation of a new political culture in public consciousness. However, for the sake of future generations and the sustainable development of the country, this process is inevitable, and we must find the least painful ways to go through it. The status of a victorious nation must prevail in the socio-political consciousness. Moreover, this status, like an international “STOP” sign, should stand in the way of any external provocations.
Asif Adil
