Clan Politics in Azerbaijan: A Critical Overview

This article focuses on the subject of the so-called “clans” in Azerbaijani politics. Although informal networks can be necessary or inevitable alongside modern political institutions, it may become problematic when regional or kinship affiliations precede official rights and duties. The failure of democratization in Azerbaijan, together with other former Soviet Republics of Central Asian and Caucasus is partially explained by the “clan politics.” Providing a historical overview of clan politics in Azerbaijan, with a focus on independence after 1991, I insist that the term clans should be used carefully. Based on literature review and a fieldwork, I suggest that regional and kinship affiliations are not a key element in understanding Azerbaijani politics, although their presence should not be overlooked. Keywords: Azerbaijan, clan politics, informal networks, post-Soviet, democratization