Journals / Düşünce Dünyasında Türkiz / 2026 / Cilt: 17 Sayı: 1

Asymmetric Threats and State Resilience: Azerbaijan’s Counterterrorism Experience in the South Caucasus

Elnur İsmayıl(İSTANBUL MEDENİYET ÜNİVERSİTESİ, SİYASAL BİLGİLER FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-9438-2649
Pages
279–319
Publication Date
2026-06-30
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

And what strategies do these groups or the state actors that support them, employ to advance their political and ideological goals?

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The primary objective of this article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the various forms of terrorist threats that have emerged in Azerbaijan since the country attained independence.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Employing a qualitative analytical approach, this paper seeks to explore the nature, motivations, and strategic objectives of these terrorist activities.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:And what strategies do these groups or the state actors that support them, employ to advance their political and ideological goals?
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Terörizm · Terörist tehditler · Ermeni terörizmi

Abstract

The primary objective of this article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the various forms of terrorist threats that have emerged in Azerbaijan since the country attained independence. The author argues that Azerbaijan has been exposed to three distinct types of terrorism: two forms of religiously motivated terrorism with linkages to Iran and certain Arab states, and a third form associated with Armenian terrorism. By situating the Azerbaijani case within broader theoretical discourses on terrorism, state security, and regional power dynamics, this study advances scholarly understanding of how post-Soviet states manage asymmetric and transnational security challenges in an increasingly interconnected geopolitical landscape. Employing a qualitative analytical approach, this paper seeks to explore the nature, motivations, and strategic objectives of these terrorist activities. Specifically, it aims to address two central research questions: What are the underlying motivations of terrorist organizations operating within or against Azerbaijan? And what strategies do these groups or the state actors that support them, employ to advance their political and ideological goals?

Özet

Bu makalenin amacı, Azerbaycan'ın bağımsızlığını kazanmasından bu yana ülkede ortaya çıkan çeşitli terör tehditlerini kapsamlı bir şekilde analiz etmektir. Yazar, Azerbaycan'ın üç farklı türde terörizme maruz kaldığını savunmaktadır: İran ve bazı Arap devletleriyle bağlantılı iki tür dini motivasyonlu terörizm ve Ermeni terörizmiyle ilişkili üçüncü bir tür. Azerbaycan örneğini terörizm, devlet güvenliği ve bölgesel güç dinamikleri üzerine daha geniş teorik tartışmaların içine yerleştirerek, bu çalışma, Sovyet sonrası devletlerin giderek daha fazla birbirine bağlı hale gelen jeopolitik ortamda asimetrik ve ulusötesi güvenlik sorunlarını nasıl yönettiklerine dair akademik anlayışı ilerletmektedir. Niteliksel bir analitik yaklaşım benimseyen bu makale, terörist faaliyetlerin doğasını, motivasyonlarını ve stratejik hedeflerini araştırmayı amaçlamaktadır. Makale, özellikle iki temel araştırma sorusunu ele almayı hedeflemektedir: Azerbaycan içinde veya Azerbaycan'a karşı faaliyet gösteren terörist örgütlerin temel motivasyonları nelerdir? Ve bu gruplar veya onları destekleyen devlet aktörleri, siyasi ve ideolojik hedeflerini ilerletmek için hangi stratejileri kullanmaktadır?

🔖

Cite This Article

İsmayıl, E. (2026). Asymmetric Threats and State Resilience: Azerbaijan’s Counterterrorism Experience in the South Caucasus. Düşünce Dünyasında Türkiz, Cilt: 17 Sayı: 1, 279–319. https://doi.org/10.59281/turkiz.1894947

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (47)

  1. Arreguín-Toft, I. (2001). How the Weak Win Wars: A Theory of Asymmetric Conflict. International Security, 26(1): 93–128.
  2. Azerbaijan: Independent Islam and the State. (2008). 25 March 2008, www.crisisgroup.org/sites/default/files/191-azerbaijan-independent-islam-and-the-state.pdf (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  3. Azərbaycan Respublikası milli təhlükəsizlik orqanlarının əməkdaşları peşə bayramlarını qeyd etmişlər. (Personnel of the national security structures of the Azerbaijan Republic have celebrated their professional holiday). (2005). March 2005, http://www.mns.gov.az/az/pages/112- 147.html (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  4. Azerbaijan detains six on suspicion of terrorism. (2012). Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 04 March 2012, http://www.rferl.org/content/azerbaiujan-detains-six-suspected-terrorists/26881651.html (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  5. Azerbaijan jails suspected Al-Qaeda militants. (2006). RFE/RL, 19 April 2006, ww.rferl.org/content/article/1067768.html (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  6. Baran, Z., Frederick, S. and Cornell, S. (2006). Islamic Radicalism in Central Asia and the Caucasus: Implications for the EU. Silk Road Paper. Central Asia–Caucasus Institute.
  7. Blakeley, R. (2009). State Terrorism and Neoliberalism: The North in the South. New York: Routledge.
  8. Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2): 27–40. https://doi.org/10.3316/QRJ0902027 (erişim: 15.02.2026)
  9. Buzan, B. and Wæver, O. (2003). Regions and Powers: The Structure of International Security. Cambridge University Press.
  10. Buzan, B. (1991). People, States and Fear: An Agenda for International Security Studies in the post-Cold War Era. Lynne Rienner.
  11. Byman, D. (2005). Deadly Connections: States that Sponsor Terrorism. New York: Cambridge University Press.
  12. Central Eurasia Daily Report. (2006). Doc. No. CEP-950096, 30 June 2006.
  13. Chandler, D. (2014). Resilience: The Governance of Complexity. Routledge.
  14. Cline, R. S. and Yonah A. (1986). Terrorism as State-Sponsored Covert Warfare, Fairfax: Hero Books.
  15. Crenshaw, M. (2011). Explaining Terrorism: Causes, Processes, and Consequences. New York: Routledge.
  16. Collins, S. D. (2014). State sponsored Terrorism: In Decline, Yet Still a Potential Threat. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12061 (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  17. Cornell, S. (2011). Azerbaijan Since Independence. M.E.Sharpe.
  18. Cornell, S. (2004). Regional Security in the South Caucasus: The Role of NATO. Central Asia-Caucasus Institute (CACI). www.files.ethz.ch/isn/30299/02_Regional_Security_South_%20Caucas us.pdf (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  19. Croissant, M. P. (1998). The Armenia–Azerbaijan Conflict: Causes and Implications. Praeger Publishers. Daxili İşlər Nazirliyi, Dövlət Təhlükəsizliyi Xidməti və Baş Prokurorluğun birgə məlumatı (Joint statement by the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry, State Security Service and Prosecutor-General’s Office). (2023). 06 April. https://mia.gov.az/az/news/view/1762/ (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  20. De Waal, T. (2010). The Caucasus: An Introduction. Oxford University Press.
  21. Hegghammer, T. (2010/2011). The Rise of Muslim Foreign Fighters: Islam and Globalization of Jihad. International Security 35 (3): 53-94.
  22. Hoffman, B. (2017). Inside Terrorism. Columbia University Press.
  23. Hunter, S. (2010). Iran’s Foreign Policy in the post-Soviet Era: Resisting the New International Order. Praeger.
  24. Ismailzade, F. (2004). Azerbaijan’s Tough Foreign Policy Choices. UNISCI Discussion Papers, 1-7.
  25. Ismayilov, E. (2015). Islam in Azerbaijan: Revival and political involvement. Agadjanian, A., Jödicke, A. and Zweerde, E. (eds). Religion, Nation and Democracy in the South Caucasus. Routledge. 96-111.
  26. Katzenstein, P. J. (1996). The culture of national security: Norms and identity in world politics. Columbia University Press.
  27. Kucera, J. (2013). Azerbaijan accuses Iran of terror plot. Eurasia. November 2013, http://www.eurasianet.org/node/67805 (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  28. Lake, D. and Morgan, P. (1997). Regional Orders: Building Security in a New World. The Pennsylvania State University Press.
  29. Lake, D. (2009). Hierarchy in International Relations. Cornell University Press.
  30. Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the struggle against terrorism. (2007). Committee of Experts on Terrorism (CODEXTER), National Legislation. www.coe.int/t/dlapil/codexter/Source/country_profiles/legislation/C T%20Legislation%20- %20Azerbaijan%20struggle%20against%20terrorism.pdf
  31. Luft, G. (2004). Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline: not yet finished and already threatened. Institute for Analysis of Global Security, November 2004, http://www.iags.org/n1104041.htm (erişim: 15.02.2026)
  32. Melman, Y. (2009). Hezbollah, Iran Plotted Bombing of Israel Embassy in Azerbaijan. Haaretz. 31 May 2009.
  33. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic. (2023). https://mfa.gov.az/files/Khojaly%20Genocide.pdf (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  34. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic. (2017). Armenian Terrorism. www.mfa.gov.az/files/armenian-terrorism.pdf (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  35. Nichol, J. (2010). Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia: Security Issues and Implications for U.S. Interests. Congressional Research Service, 11 March 2010.
  36. Shvidler, E. (2012). Azerbaijan thwarts terror attacks against Israeli, Jewish targets. Haaretz, January 2012, http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/azerbaijan-thwarts-terror-attack-against-israeli-jewish-targets- 1.408705 (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  37. Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations at the Sixth Committee of the seventy-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly under agenda item 112: "Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism". (2022). 4 October 2022. www.un.org/en/ga/sixth/77/pdfs/statements/int_terrorism/04mtg_a zerbaijan.pdf (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  38. Statement of Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan. 17 April, 2006. http://www.mns.gov.az/az/pages/175-443.html (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  39. Statement of Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan. 17 March 2005. http://mtn.gov.az/az/pages/174-439.html (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  40. Statement of Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan. 5 July 2005. http://www.mns.gov.az/az/news/92.html
  41. Sterman, A. (2013). Azerbaijan jails Iranian for Plot Against IsraeIi Embassy. 20 November 2013, www.timesofisrael.com/azerbaijan-jails-iranian-for-plot-against-israeli-embassy/ (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  42. Iran summons Azeri envoy over scientist killing. (2012). Reuters, 12 February 2012, www.reuters.com/article/world/iran-summons-azeri-envoy-over-scientist-killing-idUSTRE81B0OT/ (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  43. US State Department Highly Values Azerbaijan’s Counter Terrorism Measures. (2008). The Azerbaijan State News Agency. https://azertag.az/en/xeber/us_state_department_highly_values_azerbaij ans_counter_terrorism_measures-574556 (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  44. Azerbaijan detains espionage group of Iran’s special services. (2012). Trend. 14 March 2012, www.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/2003494.html (erişim: 15.02.2026).
  45. Valiyev, A. (2005). Azerbaijan: Islam in a Post-Soviet Republic. Middle East Review of International Affairs 9 (4).
  46. Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods. Sage Publications.
  47. Lake, D. and Morgan, P. (1997). Regional Orders: Building Security in a New World. The Pennsylvania State University Press.