Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is a country in the South Caucasus region, situated at the crossroads of Southwest Asia and Southeastern Europe. It is bound by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west and Iran to the south. The exclave of Nakhchivan is bound by Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the south and west, while having an 11 km border with Turkey in the north west.

The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic proclaimed its independence in 1918 and became the first democratic state in the Muslim orient world. The country was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920 as the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. The modern Republic of Azerbaijan proclaimed its independence on 30 August 1991, prior to the official dissolution of the USSR in December 1991. In September 1991, the Armenian majority of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region seceded to form the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The region and seven adjacent districts outside it became de facto independent with the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994. These regions are internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan pending a solution to the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh, found through negotiations facilitated by the OSCE.

Azerbaijan is a unitary semi-presidential republic. A member of the United Nations since 1992 after its independence, Azerbaijan was elected to membership in the newly established Human Rights Council by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 May 2006.

The Constitution of Azerbaijan does not declare an official religion and all major political forces in the country are secularist. However, the majority of the population are of a Shiite Muslim background. Most Azerbaijanis however, do not actively practice any religion, and the country has been seen to be one of the most irreligious countries in the Muslim world.

The ruling party is the New Azerbaijan Party.

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Geopolitical profile

Geopolitical position:

Position on the geopolitical map:

The Azerbaijan belongs to the frontiers zone between eurasianist Russia (Land Power) and Eurasia's Rimland. Hence it is the space of the strategical struggle between eurasianists (continentalists) and atlanticists, represented in this case by US groups of influence and globalists (Sea Power). In the same direction works Israeli lobby very active in region. In the broader sense Azerbaijan can be considered as a part of Rimland. That defines its double geopolitical identity.

Geopolitical balance:

In the epoc of Ilham Aliev rule the balance between eurasianists and atlanticists is rather stable with the serious ties with Russia but as welle with Western organization. Historically Azerbaijan was memeber of GUAM anti-Russian group in the postsoviet space. That was result of the Russian support to Armenians during Nagorny Karabakh crisis in the early 90-s. But hence the balance was partly restored. But Armenia being part of Eurasian Union and Organization of Collective Defence led by Russia, closer relations with Russia are somehow problematic.

At the same time the West openly supported Aliev's ennemies so it couldn't be consider by Aliev stable ally.

The relations with Iran are almost blocked by the Iranian har treatment of Southern Azerbaijan population and Iranian aid to Nagorny Karabakh. Turkey being closests partner of Baku can grant the amount of strategical help crucial to Azerbaijan.

Direct NATO and US, as well as EU organizations and globalists centers of influences are as well present on the ground and very active.

Main geopolitical allies:

Russia still continues to be most important ally of Azerbaijan.

USA, NATO and EU compete in this role with Russia.

Turkey is closest partner being of almost identical ethnical and linguistical provenance.

Iran as shiah country has influence on certain (not so broad) segment of azeri shiites.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar are active in sunni salafi propaganda that is met with some succes among azeri islamist youth.

Opponents:

Armenia is considered to be main ennemy that has occupied azeri lands and committed ethnical cleansing in Nagorny Karabakh and other regions.

Neutrality:

Azerbaijan is rater neutral country in most regional conflicts except Nagorny Karabakh.

Sphere of national interest.:

There are three main spheres of national interest.

1. To conserve the unity of present day territories controlled de facto by azeris and continue to claim territorial integrety of the Azerbaijan that nominally includes Nagorny Karabakh that is acknowledged by all.

2. To restore tyhe effective control on Nagorny Karabakh.

3. To unite with Southern Azerbaijan after eventual split of Iran in oreder to create Great Azerbaijan.

International disputes:

Nagorny Karabakh is the zone de facto belonging to Azerbaijan but de facto occupeid by armenians.

Ethnosociology:

Ethnical structure:

Turkish Oguz tribes mixxed with the Iranian substrat

groups of ethnic minorities: Avar, Budukh, Georgian, Juhuri, Khinalug, Kryts, Kurdish, Lezgian, Russian, Rutul, Talysh, Tat, Tsakhur and Udi

Religious structure:

Around 98% of the population are Muslims

92% of the Muslims are Shia Muslims and 6% Sunni Muslims

Of the nation's religious minorities, Christians who estimated 280,000 (3.1%). Cristian russians, armenians, georgians, udis

islamic kurds

yezidis kurds

10,000–20,000 Jews

Languages:

Azerbaijani

Ethnical identity:

turks, iranians, armenians, kurds, russians, georgians, udins, lezgins

Nationlal_identity:

Azeri as national identity, Azerbaijan's citizen

Individual (Civil Society):

high level of secularism

high percent of cosmopolite individualistic population above all in diaspora and in the main azeri cities

Ethnic map:

Religion map:

Political Ideology:

Political schema :

Formally democracy

Informally authoritarianism

According to Gramscian concepts: typic Caesarism with strong transformismo factors

According to Dugin's terminology: Archeomodernity

Geoeconomy:

Economical descriprtion:

Oil-gaz depending economy

exportation of natural resources

agriculture

Geostrategy:

Geostrategy description:

The will to cerat the army forces capable to win military Armenia considered as main ennemy and threat

Values structure:

Marginal notes:

secular, democratic, cosmopolitan (secular nationalist), indivialist on the surface

tradition society in the deep level

Transnational organizations:

Transnational description:

ONU, GUAM, Council of Europe, the OSCE, the NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP), Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Human Rights Council, Non-Aligned Movement, observer status in World Trade Organization.

National profile

Geography:

Terrain::

86,600 km2

People:

Total population::

9754830

Age structure::

0-14 years old 22,27%
15-64 years old 71,98%
65+ years old 5,75%

0-14 years: 22.7% (male 1,176,438/female 1,017,926)
15-24 years: 17.5% (male 877,773/female 818,380)
25-54 years: 45.1% (male 2,127,239/female 2,236,520)
55-64 years: 8.5% (male 379,081/female 442,970)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 232,297/female 377,586) (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate::

2001 -- 1.83

2015 -- 2.12

Total fertility rate[edit]
2.04 children born/woman (2009 est.)
1.92 children born/woman (2012 est.)
1.91 children born/woman (2014 est.)

Population growth rate::

The 2011 population growth-rate was 0.85%, compared to 1.09% worldwide. In 2011 Azerbaijan saw migration of −1.14/1,000 people.

Urbanization::

nearly 52% was urban population, the remaining 48% was the rural population 257 urban-type settlements and 4,620 villages

Urban population: 53.6% of total population (2011)
Rate of urbanization: 1.64% of annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Economy:

Exports::

petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals, petrochemicals, textiles, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs.

Electricity

812 million kWh (2008)

Imports::

Electricity

596 million kWh (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold::

$7,146 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external::

$3.89 billion (2011 est.)

GDP:

$167.905 billion

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$17,688

Distribution of family income - Gini index::

GINI -- 33.7[3]
medium

Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 27.4% (2008)

Politics:

Government type::

Unitary dominant-party semi-presidential republic

Administrative divisions::

Azerbaijan is divided into 10 economic regions; 66 rayons (rayonlar, singular rayon) and 77 cities (şəhərlər, singular şəhər) of which 12 are under the direct authority of the republic. Moreover, Azerbaijan includes the Autonomous Republic (muxtar respublika) of Nakhchivan. The President of Azerbaijan appoints the governors of these units, while the government of Nakhchivan is elected and approved by the parliament of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Absheron Economic Region
Absheron (Abşeron)
Khizi (Xızı)
Baku (Bakı)
Sumqayit (Sumqayıt)
Aran Economic Region
Aghjabadi (Ağcabədi)
Aghdash (Ağdaş)
Barda (Bərdə)
Beylagan (Beyləqan)
Bilasuvar (Biləsuvar)
Goychay (Göyçay)
Hajigabul (Hacıqabul)
Imishli (İmişli)
Kurdamir (Kürdəmir)
Neftchala (Neftçala)
Saatly (Saatlı)
Sabirabad (Sabirabad)
Salyan (Salyan)
Ujar (Ucar)
Yevlakh (Yevlax)
Zardab (Zərdab)
Mingachevir (Mingəçevir)
Shirvan (Şirvan)
Yevlakh (Yevlax)
Daghlig Shirvan
Aghsu (Ağsu)
Gobustan (Qobustan)
Ismailly (İsmayıllı)
Shamakhy (Şamaxı)
Ganja-Gazakh
Aghstafa (Ağstafa)
Dashkasan (Daşkəsən)
Gadabay (Gədəbəy)
Gazakh (Qazax)
Goygol (Göygöl)
Goranboy (Goranboy)
Samukh (Samux)
Shamkir (Şəmkir)
Tovuz (Tovuz)
Ganja (Gəncə)
Naftalan (Naftalan)
Guba-Khachmaz
Guba (Quba)
Gusar (Qusar)
Khachmaz (Xaçmaz)
Shabran (Şabran)
Siyazan (Siyəzən)
Kalbajar-Lachin
Gubadly (Qubadlı)
Kalbajar (Kəlbəcər)
Lachin (Laçın)
Zangilan (Zəngilan)
Lankaran
Astara (Astara)
Jalilabad (Cəlilabad)
Lankaran (Lənkəran)
Lerik (Lerik)
Masally (Masallı)
Yardimly (Yardımlı)
Lankaran (Lənkəran)
Nakhchivan
Babek (Babək)
Julfa (Culfa)
Kangarli (Kəngərli)
Ordubad (Ordubad)
Sadarak (Sədərək)
Shahbuz (Şahbuz)
Sharur (Şərur)
Nakhchivan (Naxçıvan)
Shaki-Zaqatala
Balakan (Balakən)
Gabala (Qəbələ)
Gakh (Qax)
Oghuz (Oğuz)
Shaki (Şəki)
Zaqatala (Zaqatala)
Shaki (Şəki)
Yukhari Garabakh
Aghdam (Ağdam)
Fuzuli (Füzuli)
Jabrayil (Cəbrayıl)
Khojaly (Xocalı)
Khojavend (Xocavənd)
Shusha (Şuşa)
Tartar (Tərtər)
Khankendi (Xankəndi)
Shusha (Şuşa)

Transport:

Main gas and oil pipelines::

The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline (BTC) became operational in May 2006 and extends more than 1,774 kilometers through the territories of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. The BTC is designed to transport up to 50 million tons of crude oil annually and carries oil from the Caspian Sea oilfields to global markets. The South Caucasus Pipeline, also stretching through the territory of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, became operational at the end of 2006 and offers additional gas supplies to the European market from the Shah Deniz gas field. Shah Deniz is expected to produce up to 296 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year.[56] Azerbaijan also plays a major role in the EU-sponsored Silk Road Project.

Major railways and roadways:

he convenient location of Azerbaijan on the crossroad of major international traffic arteries, such as the Silk Road and the South-North corridor, highlights the strategic importance of transportation sector for the country’s economy. The transport sector in the country includes roads, railways, aviation, and maritime transport.

In 2012, the construction of Kars–Tbilisi–Baku railway expected to provide transportation between Asia and Europe through connecting the railways of China and Kazakhstan in the east with Turkey's Marmaray to the European railway system in the west. Broad gauge railways in 2010 stretched for 2,918 km (1,813 mi) and electrified railways numbered 1,278 km (794 mi). By 2010, there were 35 airports and one heliport.

Military and special services:

Military expenditures::

$3.7 billion 2013

Total personnel::

95,000

Bases of foreign countries on national territory::

Russian

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Azerbaijan

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