If a person with even a minor position in the country’s public life says that “the internet has no impact on their life,” one could simply say that they are very mistaken, if not to call them a liar. Denying the potential of politics, which reaches out from a virtual window into our real lives, to influence us is as dangerous as turning a blind eye to a painful truth. The algorithms of artificial intelligence, which are updated and improved not just every day, but every minute, complicate the aforementioned landscape to an unimaginable degree. It must be admitted that there are still many questions that will remain open in this direction for a long time to come. If even Elon Musk, who has played no small part in the development of the virtual space, calls the probability of artificial intelligence writing better than humans the most dangerous phenomenon for modern states and societies, then it is time to think seriously about this issue.
If most areas of socio-economic relations are inevitably being updated under the influence of modern global trends that have engulfed the world, who decided that it is still possible to achieve breakthrough development and consistent results in the system of political relations using old methods? We can assume that the real cause of some problems experienced in the plane of political relations stems from the very issue we have noted. Those who cannot find the strength to renew themselves prefer scandals and provocations. Just as in the field of art: those without voice or talent constantly create various scandals around their names for the sake of agenda and popularity.
If the management of trends forcibly introduced under the pressure of global processes is not ensured at the national level, then “artificial intelligence,” which is used today merely as a tool for various purposes, will tomorrow carry out manipulations over people itself and fill the socio-political thinking of the population with the “values” it desires. Observed objective trends indicate that processes are developing in this direction. A small replica to think about: the phrase “internet addiction” has already been included in all social-psychological textbooks. It seems that this is just the beginning.
One of the most compelling criteria characterizing the prospects and potential of any field is the indicators of development pace. Surely everyone will agree with this assessment? Then the question: which of the real areas of socio-political relations can compete with artificial intelligence in terms of their development pace? The answer is known even to a schoolchild. Therefore, the fears of I. Musk mentioned above are by no means a plot stolen from some science fiction film. Internet technologies, which have the power to zombify the thinking of millions, even billions, are at the doorstep of each of us.
In conditions of fierce competition and the era of artificial intelligence, a system relying solely on awareness is doomed to defeat. The noted objective reality makes the renewal of fields inevitable. Likewise in politics, the benefits of fake ratings and “armies” of fake followers used through social networks to stay on the agenda are very short-lived. As a result of just one piece of professional information “leaked” into the internet space, the artificial image of any politician can be blown away like dust with a single puff. Yes, fake ratings and followers can gift a politician popularity, but never trust, charisma, or confidence.
It is no coincidence that some “skilled politicians” have gone on a hunt for cheap ratings by imitating the rules of blogging, a profession of the modern era. Yes, some of them were able to taste the sweet “fruits” of this style. But what benefit does their eating of these fruits bring to society and the state? On the contrary, those who want to turn politics into a source of income are a source of danger to society. For example, in the early years of independence, those who could not feel the difference between butchery and surgery took refuge in politics, which they thought was easier for the sake of easy money. The second wave of the mentioned trend coincides with the period of rapid development of the internet. Agree that these are quite thought-provoking “coincidences.”
We can assume that the strategic purpose of the various initiatives of the government that we have observed in the field of political parties over the last 4-5 years is precisely the renewal of Azerbaijan’s political system through evolution without external interference. All steps taken in this direction serve to strengthen the country’s political system. The main factor that makes it possible to mobilize the potentials in society for the sake of the development of the state and the nation is the existence of an environment of healthy relations in politics. This is precisely the strategic purpose of the political dialogue encouraged directly by President Ilham Aliyev, and the country’s political parties have a leading role in protecting the mentioned environment.
Political parties that served for many years to divide society and create “seismic” situations, as well as creating favorable conditions for the interference of foreign forces, have become a symbol of political and national solidarity today thanks to the dialogue environment being encouraged. Considering the fierce competition experienced in interstate relations at the current stage of history, the “stumbling” of parties in a specific country can hinder the development of the entire system. Therefore, state intervention is inevitable in preventing dangerous trends. If political parties cannot change themselves, the state is forced to perform this function itself in a certain sense. Politics should not be used to satisfy the sick ambitions of some, but to mobilize the potentials in society for the sake of the development of the state and society. A small example: the Shah Ismail Khatai incident that took place on social networks with the participation of some parties showed us that in cases where the state does not intervene in the course of processes, parties can easily turn into a tool of ideological provocation. This incident indicates that weak points hidden in the lower layers of national ideology still exist. These are the same weak points that can become a subject of biased manipulation at any moment. To fully imagine the landscape, we must take into account that the internet’s algorithm does not like a static and stable state. Dynamics are required for the diversification of the internet’s sphere of influence. Any scandal or provocation provides that very dynamic.
Worth thinking about…
Politoloq Asif Adil