Azerbaijan Since Independence (Studies of Central Asia and the Caucasus)

Azerbaijan, A Small Post-soviet Republic Located On The Western Shore Of The Caspian Sea, Has Outsized Importance Because Of Its Strategic Location At The Crossroads Of Europe And Asia; It Oil Resources; And Its Historical Experience As An Early Modernizer In The Muslim World. This Book Provides A Comprehensive Introduction To The Country. The Account Begins With Six Chapters On Azerbaijan's History From Pre-soviet Times To The Present, With An Emphasis On The Past Twenty Years. The Next Four Chapters Are Thematic, Covering The Conflict Over Karabakh, The Political System, The Oil-dominated Economy, And Societal Changes And Trends Including The Role Of Islam. The Remainder Of The Book Surveys Azerbaijan's Foreign Relations With Iran, Russia, Turkey, And The West, And It Concludes With A Brief Epilogue Discussing The Country's Future. --publisher Description. Preface -- Azerbaijan Before Soviet Rule -- Soviet Azerbaijan -- The National Revival And The Road To Independence -- The Rise And Fall Of The Popular Front -- The Aliyev Era : Restoring Stability -- Ilham Aliyev's Azerbaijan -- The Shadow Over Azerbaijan : Karabakh -- Politics And Power In Azerbaijan -- Azerbaijan's Economy : The Primacy Of Oil -- Azerbaijani Society : Identity, Modernity, And Tradition -- Caucasus Context : Formulating Foreign Policy -- Iran And The Other Azerbaijan -- Russia, The Resurgent Imperialist -- Turkey, Best Neighbor Or Big Brother? -- Azerbaijan And The West -- Epilogue -- Biographical Note. Svante E. Cornell. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Title Page 4 Contents 8 Preface 10 Maps 13 Photos 19 1 Azerbaijan Before Soviet Rule 30 2 Soviet Azerbaijan 58 3 The National Revival and the Road to Independence 73 4 The Rise and Fall of the Popular Front 87 5 The Aliyev Era: Restoring Stability 108 6 Ilham Aliyev’s Azerbaijan 131 7 The Shadow over Azerbaijan: Karabakh 153 8 Politics and Power in Azerbaijan 189 9 Azerbaijan’s Economy: The Primacy of Oil 226 10 Azerbaijani Society: Identity, Modernity, and Tradition 280 11 Caucasus Context: Formulating Foreign Policy 324 12 Iran and the “Other” Azerbaijan 345 13 Russia, the Resurgent Imperialist 365 14 Turkey, Best Neighbor or Big Brother? 386 15 Azerbaijan and the West 419 Epilogue 454 Bibliographical Note 457 Notes 461 Index 499 About the Author 512