Azerbaijan Since Independence by Svante E. Cornell

Softcover. Condition: Near Fine. 2011. M.E. Sharpe. Illustrated.

Azerbaijan Since Independence offers a comprehensive intro-
duction to modern Azerbaijan, a post-Soviet republic located on
the western shore of the Caspian Sea. This small country has
outsized importance due to its strategic location at the cross-
roads of Europe and Asia, its energy wealth, and its historical
experience as an early modernizer in the Muslim world.
The book begins with six chapters on Azerbaijan’s
history from pre-Soviet times to the present, with an emphasis
on the past twenty years. The next four chapters are thematic,
covering the conflict over Karabakh, the political system,
the oil-dominated economy, and societal changes and trends
including the role of Islam. The remainder of the book surveys
Azerbaijan’s foreign relations, with an analysis of the foreign-
policy-making context complemented by chapters on relations
with Iran, Russia, Turkey, and the West. The book closes with
a brief epilogue discussing the country’s future.