MODERN TECHNOLOGIES AND THE DEMOCRACY PROCESSES
Chapter 4
4.1. Introduction
 The fact that Azerbaijan has regained its independence has opened opportunities for the country's integration into the world community and created the prerequisites for reforms in the economic, social and policy spheres. The policy, which the government has been pursuing with support of international organizations, primarily the UNDP, has continuously promoted the increase of the human development indices. In recent years, notable successes in public participation of decision-making processes, implementation of reforms, access to information and its diffusion have been achieved.
Azerbaijan is beginning its journey towards political democracy. This is reflected by the speed and dynamics of democratic reforms in the country. The community still doesn't have a complete grasp of the political culture, rights and freedoms of citizens, and some rep-resentatives of power structures do not respect these values. In addition, restraint from violence, tolerance of individual opinions, freedom of discussion and the right to express personal opinions even though they may differ from that of the majority are new norms, which have only begun during the post-Communist era.
ICT play an important role in building up and strengthening awareness of these norms, which are among the most important prerequisites of democratic reforms. IT can create the conditions for irreversibility of the process of liberalization and the expansion of public participation in human development. The development of democratic processes requires further expansion of modern IT. This involves all aspects of democratic reforms in the country, including public awareness through mass and personalized information, along with public participation in the decision-making process.
The importance of ICT for the progress of democracy in the country and for the development of its human potential is reflected in the NICTS. This program envisages that an intensive introduction of information technologies will lead to fundamental reforms, which include involvement in political participation and fostering responsibility and transparency of the government's activity, as well as facilitating the free flow of information. In this context, the development of forms of self-organization and self-government, including NGOs, community based organizations (CBOs), professional associations and trade unions will build a favorable environment to introduce and use IT. This Chapter addresses the state and prospects of using ICT and the achievements of ICTs for further progress of democracy and expansion of public participation in decision-making, reform implementation and promoting a free flow of information.
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