XIII. International Challenges and Domestic Preferences in the Post-Soviet Political Transition of Azerbaijan

Author: Ergun A.

Source: Perspectives on Global Development and Technology, Volume 2, Numbers 3-4, 2003 , pp. 635-657(23)

Publisher: BRILL

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Abstract:

In the post-Soviet transition, the role of the international element (i.e., external actors-foreign countries and international governmental and non-governmental organizations) is one important aspect of the study of state-society relations. The international element highlights the fact that post-Soviet transition is not a question of internal politics only and is affected by redefinition of the relationships with the outside world. Thus, the interplay between international and domestic actors should not be ignored in conceptualizing the process of transition, but similarly it should not be used as a single tool to explain the process but rather as a complementary factor that aids in our understanding of its path. This article puts the post-Soviet political transformation in Azerbaijan into the context of both the regional and the global framework, exploring the interaction between the international element and domestic actors. The first part focuses on Azerbaijan's relations with Armenia, Iran, Russia, Turkey, and the West and explores the question of how Azerbaijan's perceptions about its external environment, with reference to these countries, can contribute or hinder political transformation. The second part of the article examines the degree of impact and promoting effect of the international element on political transformation, while focusing on the relationship between international organizations, the state, and the societal actors.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156915003322986433

Publication date: 2003-09-15