Progressive Regression
Progressive Regression: A brief analysis of the post-Soviet democratization process of Azerbaijan
The demise of the Soviet Union of December of 1991 did not only bring an end of the Cold War; it brought over two-hundred and ninety-three million souls spanning over eleven time zones out of the shadows that lurked behind an Iron Curtain. This unprecedented event in modern history gave birth to an era of transition for the fifteen republics that would emerge, providing the world with one of the most significant political experiments of modern history. This transitional phase has proven to be quite inhibited as it has exposed the inadequacies provoked by the incompetence of the failed Soviet system. This has become apparent in all realms of the transitional spectrum and is profoundly illustrated through the evolution, or lack of, within the regimes of the Caucus region (Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan). The Caucuses have been plagued by the onset of ethnic conflict, rampant corruption, and lack of economic development in their post-Soviet era’s of history, notably within the Republic of Azerbaijan. This work will focus on the political climate of post-Soviet Azerbaijan. The evolution of this climate will include four phases of Azerbaijani politics: 1) The disintegration of communist rule (1991-1992), 2) national-democrats in power (1992-93), 3) Semi-authoritarian rule (1993-2003), and 4) Sultanic semi-authoritarian rule (2003-present) and will identify the prominent figureheads, their roles in Azeri politics and the interplay of events that have led to its current state.
Azerbaijan has endured an extensive history of invasions and foreign dominance as it is geographically positioned within the strategic crossroads of Russian influence to its north, Persian cultures to its south, Turkish, Turkic, and Armenian tribes within its own borders. These geopolitical strains provide a pretext to the difficulties associated with establishing itself as an independent
The demise of the Soviet Union of December of 1991 did not only bring an end of the Cold War; it brought over two-hundred and ninety-three million souls spanning over eleven time zones out of the shadows that lurked behind an Iron Curtain. This unprecedented event in modern history gave birth to an era of transition for the fifteen republics that would emerge, providing the world with one of the most significant political experiments of modern history. This transitional phase has proven to be quite inhibited as it has exposed the inadequacies provoked by the incompetence of the failed Soviet system. This has become apparent in all realms of the transitional spectrum and is profoundly illustrated through the evolution, or lack of, within the regimes of the Caucus region (Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan). The Caucuses have been plagued by the onset of ethnic conflict, rampant corruption, and lack of economic development in their post-Soviet era’s of history, notably within the Republic of Azerbaijan. This work will focus on the political climate of post-Soviet Azerbaijan. The evolution of this climate will include four phases of Azerbaijani politics: 1) The disintegration of communist rule (1991-1992), 2) national-democrats in power (1992-93), 3) Semi-authoritarian rule (1993-2003), and 4) Sultanic semi-authoritarian rule (2003-present) and will identify the prominent figureheads, their roles in Azeri politics and the interplay of events that have led to its current state.
Azerbaijan has endured an extensive history of invasions and foreign dominance as it is geographically positioned within the strategic crossroads of Russian influence to its north, Persian cultures to its south, Turkish, Turkic, and Armenian tribes within its own borders. These geopolitical strains provide a pretext to the difficulties associated with establishing itself as an independent
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