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History and Government
History: Over the centuries Azerbaijan has enjoyed only brief periods of independent statehood, in between longer periods when it was incorporated into the major regional empires. This process began with the Arabs in the seventh century, during which period Islam was established as the predominant religion. In the 11th century, the Seljuk Turks established a Turkish dialect as the main language in the territory. Thereafter, Azerbaijan was influenced by both the Ottoman Turks, lying on the border of their empire, and the Iranians from whom they acquired an adherence to the Shia branch of Islam. In 1828, the Russians, in the course of their drive southwards, took over the northern part of Azerbaijan – which now comprises the modern republic – while the southern part remained a province of Iran.
The oil boom, which began in the late-19th century, transformed the capital, Baku, into a cosmopolitan industrial centre, with a large proletariat living and working in appalling conditions. Subsequently, the city was a receptive target for the early Bolshevik movement: activists, including the young Josef Stalin, cut their political teeth organising Baku oil workers. Control of the oilfields led to a prolonged power struggle in Baku following the 1917 revolution. The Bolsheviks eventually prevailed and in 1920 the Red Army entered Azerbaijan. In 1922 the territory joined the USSR, assuming the status of the full Soviet republic in 1936.
In 1945, Stalin sought to unite the Azeri Soviet Republic with the northern province of Iran that has a majority Azeri population. After he withdrew in the face of determined opposition from Britain and the USA, Azerbaijan spent the next 40 years as a minor Soviet republic. The most prominent politician who emerged during this period was Geidar Aliyev, successively head of the Azerbaijan KGB, leader of the Republic itself, and then a full member of the Soviet Politburo. As the Soviet Union started to break up towards the end of the 1980s, it was the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh, an autonomous enclave inside Azeri territory with an overwhelming Armenian majority, that proved critical to Azerbaijan’s political development. (see Armenia section).
From the beginning of the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Azeris have been on the back foot: popular discontent over the post-communist government’s handling of the conflict led to the ousting of the Communist Party. In their last action of the type, Soviet tanks intervened to restore communist rule, which lasted only until the spring of 1992 before the main opposition party, the Popular Front, took full control. However, serious internal problems and a failure to make any progress on Karabakh led to a military coup and paved the way for the return of Geidar Aliyev, who came out of nominal retirement in Moscow and was hailed as a saviour of sorts. He succeeded in tackling the two most pressing isssues: stabilising the political situation in the country and negotiating a truce in the Nagorno-Karabakh war. The 1994 settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh did not favour the Azeris and, although they have too much to lose by going back to war, they continue to make vigorous diplomatic efforts to address the status of the territory. Aliyev has twice been re-elected by huge majorities, most recently in October 1998, while his political vehicle, the New Azerbaijan Party, has consolidated control of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly). Elections in November 2000 gave the party two-thirds of the parliamentary seats. Aliyev’s poor health and advancing age has focused attention on the succession: in common with many national strongmen, Aliyev has anointed his son Ilham as his successor. The country’s continuing poor economic performance, widespread corruption and repression of the opposition have tarnished Aliyev’s legacy. He also has significant domestic opponents, including the organisers of an unsuccessful coup in October 2001.
Aliyev’s other success has been to transform the international status of his country from a relative backwater to a pivotal power in Central Asia. The major players in the region – especially Russia, Turkey, Iran, the Gulf states and latterly Pakistan (which is providing military equipment and training) – have been vying for influence in the country using the traditional levers of aid packages, economic collaboration, and support for religious groups and political parties. In addition, the recent discovery of potentially huge offshore oil and gas fields in the Azeri sector of the Caspian Sea has drawn Western oil companies and governments to the country. And after the 11 September 2001 attacks in the USA, Azerbaijan’s provision of airspace and intelligence to US forces has greatly improved its standing in Washington.
Government: Under its post-independence constitution, legislative power is vested in the 125-member Milli Majlis (National Assembly): 100 members are elected in single-seat constituencies and the remainder by proportional representation. Executive power is held by the President and a Council of Ministers which the President appoints. Direct presidential and parliamentary elections are held every five years.
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