Academic Paper from the year 2018 in the subject Orientalism / Sinology - Islamic Studies, grade: A, language: English, abstract: A number of researches have been conducted regarding practicing religion in different regimes; however, there is a lack of studies about the practice of religion in Post-Soviet countries including Azerbaijan. So, the current study describes and compares adhering to the principles of Islam in Baku during the Soviet time and in independent Azerbaijan. The study was conducted by using a qualitative research method. Namely, semi-structured individual interviews and observations revealed that there is a significant gap between these two periods in terms of practicing Islam, and because of an educational system, access to worship places, and religious declarations, Islam is more practiced now in comparison to the Soviet time. In conclusion, the research can be used as a model by historians, religious experts, and researchers who are interested in the religious situation of Post-Soviet countries in the Soviet time and after their independence; additionally causes of why people who do not adhere to the principles of Islam regard themselves as Muslim may be a topic of further researches.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union and the appearance of new independent states in its place resulted in dramatic changes in geopolitics. Azerbaijan emerged as one of the new spheres of interest in the world community. Its historical legacy as well as being a meeting point of western and eastern cultures makes it worthwhile for research. Its moderate Islamic framework and its unique character as the only country throughout the post-Soviet space in which a major part of the population belong to Shia Islam distinguish it from other Muslim republics. The main focus of this investigation lies on the interaction between Islam, state and society that took place in Azerbaijan within the unique historical-cultural and socio-political contexts. Rufat Sattarov shows the role Islam played historically in Azerbaijan conditioned specific features of the so-called Islamic revival in the country in the post-Soviet period.

One in a series of books analyzing the political, economic, social and national security systems and institutions of a range of countries, and how they are shaped by cultural factors. Here, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are examined both as they existed before and during the Soviet era, and how they have developed since 1991. The marked relaxation of information restrictions, which began in the late 1980s and accelerated after 1991, has allowed the reporting of nearly complete data on every aspect of life in the three countries.

Analyzes Muslim countries' contemporary problems, particularly violence, authoritarianism, and underdevelopment, comparing their historical levels of development with Western Europe.

An accessible, transregional exploration of how Islam and Asia have shaped each other's histories, societies and cultures from the seventh century to today.

From Kurdistan to Somaliland, Xinjiang to South Yemen, all secessionist movements hope to secure newly independent states of their own. Most will not prevail. The existing scholarly wisdom provides one explanation for success, based on authority and control within the nascent states. With the aid of an expansive new dataset and detailed case studies, this book provides an alternative account. It argues that the strongest members of the international community have a decisive influence over whether today's secessionists become countries tomorrow and that, most often, their support is conditioned on parochial political considerations.