Who Are the Azerbaijanis?
The Azerbaijanis (Azeris) are a Turkic people numbering approximately 30-35 million—10 million in the Republic of Azerbaijan and 15-25 million in northwestern Iran (Iranian Azerbaijan), with diaspora in Russia, Turkey, and globally. They speak Azerbaijani (Azeri), an Oghuz Turkic language closely related to Turkish, written in Latin script in Azerbaijan and Arabic script in Iran. Azerbaijanis are predominantly Shia Muslim—unusual for a Turkic people. They inhabit the historically significant Caucasus region where European and Asian civilizations meet, giving rise to the "Land of Fire" appellation from ancient Zoroastrian fire temples fueled by natural gas seeps.
Historical Formation
Azerbaijan's territory has seen Medes, Persians, Greeks, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, and Russians. Turkic migration began in the 11th century; the population gradually Turkified while retaining Iranian cultural elements. The Safavid Empire (1501-1736), which established Shia Islam as Iran's state religion, was founded by Azerbaijanis (Shah Ismail I). Russian conquest (19th century) divided Azerbaijanis between Russian and Persian rule—a division persisting today. The brief Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-1920)—the Muslim world's first democratic republic—established women's suffrage before being absorbed into the Soviet Union.
Soviet Era and Independence
Soviet Azerbaijan (1920-1991) experienced industrialization, literacy campaigns, and oil development (Baku was major petroleum center). The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia began in 1988—an Armenian-majority enclave within Azerbaijan became war zone. Full-scale war (1992-1994) killed 30,000 and displaced one million; Armenia occupied Karabakh and surrounding regions. The 2020 war, with Turkish/Israeli support, allowed Azerbaijan to recapture most territories. President Ilham Aliyev (since 2003, succeeding his father) has maintained authoritarian rule while oil wealth funded development and military buildup.
Iranian Azerbaijanis
More Azerbaijanis live in Iran than in Azerbaijan—perhaps double the population. Iranian Azerbaijan includes major cities (Tabriz, Urmia) and was historically Iran's power center. Many Iranian leaders have Azerbaijani heritage; Azerbaijanis are integrated into Iranian society unlike some minorities. Yet tensions exist: Azerbaijani language rights are limited; protests have occurred over perceived discrimination. Pan-Azerbaijani sentiment occasionally emerges. Iran worries about potential separatism; Azerbaijan carefully avoids openly supporting Iranian Azerbaijani nationalism while maintaining cultural connections. This divided nation's future depends on developments in both countries.
Contemporary Azerbaijan
Modern Azerbaijan is an oil-rich, authoritarian state with strategic importance in the South Caucasus. Baku has been transformed by petrochemical wealth—gleaming skyscrapers, hosting Eurovision (2012), Formula 1 racing. Yet political opposition is suppressed, press freedom minimal, and corruption endemic. Relations with Armenia remain hostile despite 2020 victory; Nagorno-Karabakh's Armenian population was displaced in 2023. Turkey is close ally; relations with Iran are complex. How Azerbaijan manages post-oil transition, addresses governance issues, and navigates regional power politics shapes this fire-land people's future at the crossroads of empires.
References
- Swietochowski, T. (1995). Russia and Azerbaijan: A Borderland in Transition
- Cornell, S. E. (2011). Azerbaijan Since Independence
- de Waal, T. (2003). Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan through Peace and War