National
identity is how a country describes its culture and uniqueness in comparison to
other countries (Triandafyllidou, 1998, p. 593) and even though defining a
country’s national identity seems easy, it is immensely challenging. Azerbaijan
is no different. Azerbaijan is a mixed bag of influences, with the walled city
of Baku being a prime example of the country’s diversity. According to the
United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2019),
“The city reveals, along with the dominant Azerbaijani element, evidence of
Zoroastrian, Sassanian, Arabic, Persian, Shirvani, Ottoman, and Russian
presence in cultural continuity.” Because of the outside influences, different
generations of Azerbaijanis are greatly different from each other (Diuk, 2012,
p. 59), and this makes Azerbaijan’s national identity is unstable. However, it
is these diverse, cultural influences that make up Azerbaijan’s identity. In
this blog, I will discuss key features of the Azerbaijani identity as well as
the country’s “significant other,” or an outside group of people that, to the
Azerbaijanis, appear to threaten the culture or independence (Triandafyllidou,
1998, p. 600).
Religion
plays a major cultural role in Azerbaijan and is a good example of the how the multiple
influences by the outside shape the country’s identity. Prior to the introduction
of Islam by the Arabs, Zoroastrianism flourished in the region from the first
millennium BCE (O’Hare, 2018). Zoroastrian temples often had a fire burning
somewhere inside or near the temple as O’Hare further explains: “For
Zoroastrians, fire is a link between humans and the supernatural world, and a
medium through which spiritual insight and wisdom can be gained.” The
Zoroastrian influence is referenced in the Flame Towers, as they are the shape
of fire, and in the national emblem, which features a flame of fire. Today, however,
Azerbaijan is a Shia Muslim country with an overwhelming 96% of the population
claiming Islam as their religion (Central Intelligence Agency, 2019). While
Islam had a strong presence in Azerbaijan in the past with the Arabs and the Seljuk
Turks, when the Russians came and Azerbaijan joined the Soviet Union, Islam
quickly was perceived as less important as the country converted to a secular
state. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Islam remained a minor part of Azerbaijani
life as Azerbaijanis identify more towards culturally Muslim rather than
observant. For example, Islamic holidays are celebrated (Ismayilova, 2018), but
women are not required to cover their heads in public and religious freedom is
guaranteed under the constitution of Azerbaijan (Republic of Azerbaijan, 1995).
In addition, Azerbaijan uses Islam differentiate itself from its Caucasian
neighbors, Armenia and Georgia, which are primarily Christian (Diuk, 2012, p.58).
Azerbaijan may not be as religious as their neighbors, but they take the cultural
aspects of the religions that once were widespread and use it to identify
themselves.
Azerbaijan
also prides itself on progress and modernization. Having hosted many events
such as the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, the inaugural European Games in
2015, the second round of the European Grand Prix Formula 1 race and the 4th
Islamic Solidarity Games both in 2017, Azerbaijan appears to be proud of its
ability to host large scale events and to show itself off as a hidden gem of
culture in Europe (Imran, 2017, p. 112). For example, Baku’s Crystal Hall,
which featured colorful light displays on the outside, was built specifically
for the Eurovision Song Contest which cost around $277 million to construct
(Sultanova, 2012). Also, in 2015, Azerbaijan built new sports arenas just to
host the inaugural European Games (Demytrie, 2015). This is done so that
Azerbaijan can put itself on the map, as Sports Minister Azad Rahimov states:
“After the European Games in Baku, people across the world will know that
Azerbaijan is in Europe” (Demytrie, 2015). The fact that the Azerbaijani
government went so far as to build entirely new venues for events demonstrates
that Azerbaijanis are determined to modernize while also demonstrating that
they are proud of their wealth and advancements in technology. Azerbaijan’s
modernization, development, and wealth are a driving force in Azerbaijani
identity.
Art
also plays a key role in Azerbaijani identity. Azerbaijani traditional music, known
as Mugham, is growing in popularity and it has been inscribed in the Representative
List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO since 2008
(UNESCO). Azerbaijan even has an International Mugham Festival to promote the
music style. When it comes to the performing arts, Azerbaijan has passed laws
to protect and preserve performing arts centers and theaters around the country
(Akhundova, 2017, p. 211 – 212). Azerbaijani carpets have been exhibited at
UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris and Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture even held a
conference in dedication to Azerbaijani carpets (Akhundova, 2017, p. 216). Azerbaijani
art has been growing in popularity which has been promoted by the government
and is considered highly important to the identity of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani
art and music are so important that it has been a source of conflict with one
of their neighbors.
Armenia is an external significant
other that contests the land of Azerbaijan. Many Azerbaijan government websites,
such as the Ministry of Culture and the Official website of the President of Azerbaijan,
have a certain tab or section devoted to the ongoing conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan that specifically note Armenian aggression. A notable one that the Azerbaijani government
writes frequently about is the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region which in
southwest Azerbaijan on the border of Armenia. Despite Nagorno-Karabakh being
within the technical territory of Azerbaijan, the region is predominantly
Armenian (Central Intelligence Agency, 2019). A full-scale war broke out over
this region which caused many Azerbaijanis and Armenians to leave the region
and seek refuge in their respective home countries. The region is said to be the
birthplace of poets and musicians for Azerbaijan (De Waal, 2003, p. 3), which
further suggests that art and territory are key parts of Azerbaijan’s national
identity. The perceived threat from
Armenia inspired Azerbaijanis to volunteer to fight in the Nagorno-Karabakh
region in order to preserve their territory and culture in the region. (Diuk,
2012, p. 61). The perceived threat also reinforces Azerbaijanis’ sense of
belonging to Azerbaijan and emphasizes their belief that Azerbaijanis are
unique and not Armenian (Triandafyllidou, 1998, p. 603). The use of Armenia as
an external other strengthens Azerbaijan’s national identity by giving the arts
and territory heightened importance.
Azerbaijan’s national identity is
shaped by outside influences that once ruled over the land. As a result,
Azerbaijan’s identity is complex, messy, and difficult to grasp. Azerbaijan embraces
all its influences and continues to move forward while promoting its own art.
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