Leiden University Student Repository

Soff, Olaf (2017)

Azerbaijan in Conflict: Research on the motives of Azerbaijan to escalate its conflict with Armenia in the spring of 2016

Bachelor thesis | International Studies (BA)

In the spring of 2016, Azerbaijan undertook a military campaign to conquer Nagorno-Karabakh. Although the estimated number of casualties, as well as the land taken by Azerbaijan differs per source, it is agreed that it is the most violent clash between Armenia and Azerbaijan since the 1994 ceasefire agreement was reached. This thesis will argue what the worsening economy of Azerbaijan and the shifts within its domestic political situation have moved Azerbaijan towards this escalation of the conflict. Using a state level of analysis, as well as an individual level of analysis, this thesis will analyse how the resource curse of Azerbaijan which backfired after the Oil Boom ended, combined with the increase in protests from the civilians, has led to the regime deciding to move to escalate its conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Azerbaijan

Armenia

Nagorno-Karabakh

South Caucasus

Conflict

Internal decisionmaking

Economy

Socio political

Author

Soff, Olaf

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

International Studies: Russia & Eurasia

Supervisors

David, Maxine

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en