Yunusov Arif

№ 4, 2007

• Islamic factor in Azerbaijan.

  The article analyzes the dynamics of religious situation in Azerbaijan. According to the author, by the end of the soviet period Islam has provoked the interest of Azerbaijanians only as part of their history and culture. In their majority they remained Muslims only by origin and were not very zealous in following religious rituals. After the Karabakh conflict and gaining independence, the Azerbaijanian society approved of the replacement of communist ideology by Islam. A.Yunusov distinguishes several stages of ideological development that passed through the years of independence that were characterized by constant change in the ratio of attractiveness of Islamism, Turkism and the values of Western democracy.

  The author questions the prospects of political Islam in the country, which is especially topical against the background of the diminishing authority of pro-Western and pro-Russian political structures.

  DOI: 10.30570/2078-5089-2007-47-4-164-183