Frustrated Democracy in Post-Soviet Azerbaijan
Washington/18.05.17/Turan: Frustrated Democracy in Post-Soviet Azerbaijan - the name of a new book presented today in USA.
Author , Audrey L. Altstadt follows a newly independent oil-rich former Soviet republic as it adopts a Western model of democratic government and then turns toward corrupt authoritarianism.
She begins with the Nagorno-Karabagh War (1988-1994) which triggered Azerbaijani nationalism and set the stage for the development of a democratic movement. Initially successful, this government soon succumbed to a coup. Western oil companies arrived and money flowed in-a quantity Altstadt calls "almost unimaginable"-causing the regime to resort to repression to maintain its power. Despite Azerbaijan's long tradition of secularism, political Islam emerged as an attractive alternative for those frustrated with the stifled democratic opposition and the lack of critique of the West's continued political interference.
Altstadt's work draws on instances of censorship in the Azerbaijani press, research by embedded experts and nongovernmental and international organizations, and interviews with diplomats and businesspeople. The book is an essential companion to her earlier works, The Azerbaijani Turks: Power and Identity Under Russian Rule and The Politics of Culture in Soviet Azerbaijan, 1920-1940.
*Audrey L. Altstadt is a professor of history at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She was a fellow at the Wilson Center in 2014-15. -0-
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- Social
- 18 May 2017 17:17
Culture
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On July 9, the 2024 Germany-France Gender Equality Award for contributions to gender equality was presented at the residence of the German Embassy in Azerbaijan.
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The search for identity and meaning in life by modern humans is a topic recently addressed by many artists. The group exhibition "Everything Will Be Alright: Tomorrow or Someday" at YAY Gallery features works by Rasim Babayev, Elshan Baba, Orkhan Huseynov, Terlan Gorchu, Aida Mahmudova, Qafar Rzayev, Zamir Suleymanov, and CHINGIZ. This exhibition explores various aspects of truth and identity through the contemporary lens. Curated by Zahra Mammadova, the exhibition focuses on how art influences individuals.
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People seek to learn about past eras by conducting research on the internet, watching films, or being regular attendees of theatrical performances. Some periods in cultural history have not been deeply studied, and finding precise, detailed information in the Azerbaijani language is nearly impossible. One such period is the Qajar era, which lasted from 1794 to 1985.
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V "Sevil" International Women's Documentary Film Festival is held in Azerbaijan from 5 to 12 July.
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