Perceptions of Identity and Attitudes Toward the Peace Process in Azerbaijan After the Second Karabakh War

The Second Karabakh War led to radical changes in Azerbaijani society’s perception of national identity and profoundly affected attitudes towards the peace process. In the aftermath of the war, Azerbaijani society has been going through various social and psychological processes both in search of internal identity and to contribute to the regional peace process. This study examines the transformation in Azerbaijanis’ perception of national identity in the post-war period and the effects of this transformation on attitudes towards lasting peace. Within the scope of the research, a survey was conducted with 150 participants across Azerbaijan, and the data was analyzed using Python programming language. The findings show that the war has strengthened the perception of national identity and created a collective sense of victory throughout the society. Although the majority of the participants believe that peace is possible, they emphasize that a culture of peace based on mutual trust, empathy and education should be developed in order to achieve peace. Significant differences were observed in attitudes towards peace depending on age and education level. The study draws attention to the fact that the peace process may be damaged if national identity discourses evolve into an exclusionary structure. The results reveal that for peace to be sustainable in Azerbaijan, an inclusive identity and a dialog-oriented approach should be developed.