Azerbaijan’s Relations with Russia During the Heydar Aliyev Era

Abstract

This chapter examines the dynamic shifts in Azerbaijani-Russia relations from pre-1993 tensions to post-1993 cooperation. While facing significant challenges and anti-Russian sentiment before 1993, Azerbaijan managed to forge a close interaction during Heydar Aliyev’s tenure. This study delves into the strategic measures employed by Heydar Aliyev that reshaped these relations, as well as the key influencing factors between 1993 and 2003. Employing a neoclassical realist perspective, which integrates realist and normative approaches, the analysis encompasses three types of variables: the “independent variable” (external environment and system), the “intervening variable” (internal state dynamics including institutions, power relations, perception, and ideology), and the “dependent variable” (foreign policy), with a specific emphasis on transitional phases. The paper’s objectives are to analyze the evolution of Azerbaijani-Russian relations from 1993 to 2003; illuminate the correlation between pivotal moments in these relations and the foreign policy strategies of the leaders; consider periods of amelioration in Azerbaijani-Russian relations as distinctive responses to the intricate geostrategic landscape by Azerbaijani leadership; and investigate the causal links between domestic and systemic factors (about Azerbaijan and Russia) that influenced Azerbaijani-Russian relations from 1993 to 2003. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.