Iranian soft power in Azerbaijan and the second Karabakh war

Abstract

The various dimensions of Azerbaijan-Iran relations contain certain mechanisms of influence that the two states use against one another. One of these mechanisms is the projection of soft power by Iran onto Azerbaijan. This thesis focuses on the projection of soft power by the Islamic Republic in Azerbaijan through analyzing the available literature. Furthermore, the study makes a contribution to the literature by providing new knowledge about different kinds of Iranian soft power, which are categorized as religious and non-religious. Both methods of Iran’s soft power projection are explored in detail and possible transformations of Iranian soft power in the context of shifting balance of power in the region after the Second Karabakh War at the end of 2020 are examined. To analyze Iranian soft power in Azerbaijan and the impact of the Second Karabakh War, this research uses two methods: expert interview and content analysis. Thus, it is intended that the thesis will give valuable insights into Azerbaijan-Iran relations and the use of soft power by the Islamic Republic while taking into consideration the consequences of the new balance of power in the region following the Second Karabakh War.