The Place of the Journal "Molla Nasraddin" Among the World's Satirical Press in the Early 20th Century

The magazine «Molla Nasreddin» holds a distinct place in the Azerbaijani literary language, national and social journalism, and Azerbaijani culture, owing to its unique satirical voice. A comparative analysis of the «Molla Nasreddin» legacy reveals its significant position within world literature, as well as in the broader canon of global satire and journalism. Its language, style, and methods of addressing socio-political issues are marked by a singular uniqueness. In this context, the translation and publication of the *Molla Nasreddin* legacy across various countries and in different languages carry considerable scholarly importance. The objective of this article is to analyze the role played by «Molla Nasreddin» within the Azerbaijani social landscape of the early 20th century, in comparison to alternative publications from various other regions and countries. To this end, both contextual comparisons with several prominent contemporary magazines and analyses focused on underlying ideas and satirical approaches yield compelling insights. The article examines the literary, journalistic, satirical, and artistic works featured in numerous issues of «Molla Nasreddin»—works that address everyday socio-cultural challenges within a multicultural setting. It explores the impact of these pieces on diverse national and religious groups, as well as the pivotal role they played in shaping ethno-cultural identity—a phenomenon of significant interest for the study of world literature.