Azerbaijan/ 1. Historical perspective: cultural policies and instruments  

Over the last century, Azerbaijan experienced a great number of extraordinary events: severe changes in its political regime, national liberation movements, participation in the Second World War and local or regional wars. On 28 May 1918, the National Council of Azerbaijan adopted its Declaration of Independence which proclaimed the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR). Two years later, however, Azerbaijan fell under the Communist regime of the Soviet Union, which lasted for more than 70 years. In the first half of the 19th century, official politics, through both direct and more indirect ideological instruments, aimed to gradually "sovietise" the country's national identity and skilfully manipulate national awareness. The alphabet used in Azerbaijan was changed twice during this time: in 1929 from Arabic to Latin and again in 1939 from Latin to Cyrillic. This instability made it difficult for younger generations to study their cultural heritage. On a more positive note, efforts were made to ensure universal literacy and to broaden participation in the arts and culture. The famous slogan "art to the masses" was not merely rhetoric, but also a guideline for action. Culture was financed by the state. As a Soviet Republic, however, the arts had to be ideologically streamlined. A new state was being founded on a new ideology and longed for a new culture. The first signs of individualism and rejection of the principles of "socialist realism" became visible at the end of the 1950s and the beginning of the 1960s. Since that period, the arts have gradually emancipated themselves from state control. In some sectors, this process was more intense than in others, but it resulted in a powerful surge of national awareness around the middle of the 1980s.

Beginning from 1988, Azerbaijan was faced with unjustified territorial claims by Armenia and forcibly involved into a military conflict. As a result of the Armenian aggression and military actions in Nagorno-Garabagh and adjoining districts - Kelbajar, Agdam, Lachin, Jabrayil, Gubadli, Zangilan and Fizuli - 20% of the national territory had been occupied, and the number of refugees and displaced persons had reached more than one million. As it was mentioned in the International Conference on refugees and displaced people in the South Caucasus (May 2001), organised by the PACE Committee on refugees, migration and demography, each eighth inhabitant of Azerbaijan is a refugee or displaced person. During the military conflict 20 000 people have been killed, 8 500 have become disabled, more that 100 000 have been injured; and approximately 900 settlements have been destroyed. As well as dwelling houses, industrial and agricultural buildings, there were numerous cultural institutions in the conquered zones: 927 libraries, 808 cultural centres, 85 music and art schools, 22 museums, 4 art galleries, 13 architectural and archeological  world monuments, 242 of national and 434 of local importance. There were 6 architectural and 7 archeological monuments of world significance, such as 15-arched Khudaferin bridges (VII-XII centuries), Ganjasar and Khudavend monasteries (both - XIII century) in the Kelbajar district, a mausoleum in the Turbatli village of Agdam district (XIV century) and the ancient city-reserve of Shusha.

On 20 January 1990, without declaring a state of emergency, troops from the former Soviet Union poured into Baku and some districts of Azerbaijan. Numerous victims were peaceful inhabitants; in total, 133 people have been killed and 611 have been injured. In spite of all these repressive measures, however, the Soviet Union was doomed. On 18 October 1991, the Constitutional Act was passed, and Azerbaijan's independence was restored. With many internal and external problems, the Republic had to pass through a difficult period of state establishment. Heydar Aliyev was returned to the leadership, as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in accordance with the request of the Azerbaijan people in 1993. In a very short time, internal political stability was restored, and the strategy and main directions of further development of the country have been defined. The next stage in the progress of Azerbaijan started and Azerbaijan's cultural policy was initiated at this time.