On the research of Mustafadze, Cherniavsky, Balaev, Pivovarov, Kazancev and others
The monograph of R.S. Mustafadze «The two republics. Azerbaijani-Russian relations in 1918-1922» (Moscow, 2006) is of particular interest on this question. In the study, relevant issues of the formation and development of Azerbaijani-Russian relations in the period of 1918-1922 are observed. Particular attention is paid to analysis of the period's events. In the context of economic issues the fight for Baku's oil is specially investigated.
The research of S.I. Cherniavsky «Azerbaijan: policy choice» (Moscow, 2003) holds a specific place in recent Azerbaijan historiography. The book is written by an eminent Russian diplomat, who is a witness of current events. Based on a great deal of actual material, Azerbaijan's
first steps in the post-Soviet era are described. The author studies the results of the first three presidents of the Azerbaijani Republic. He analyses the role of oil strategy in strengthening the country's independence, the basic components of «energy diplomacy», such as development of the legal status of the Caspian Sea in the context of regional security and the role and significance of the policy of diversification in determining the routes of pipelines.
Aydyn Balaev's book «Mamed Emin Rasuladze (1884-1955)» (Moscow, 2009) analyses the life of the most eminent figure in Azerbaijan's 20th century political history. Rasuladze was the founder of Azerbaijanism ideology, which became the theoretical basis of the process of
nation-building in May 1918. The author particularly observes Rasuladze's life in 1917-1920, when he was leader of the Azerbaijani people and defined the strategic path of the national movement, playing a big role in developing the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic, the first
Turkic and the first Muslim democratic republic. A book «The Azerbaijani Democratic Republic» (Moscow, 2008), dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the first Azerbaijani republic, includes articles on the issue and analysis of the ADR's oil policy.
Among the studies from foreign post-Soviet countries, a particularly eminent place is held by the papers of professor Efim Iosifovich Pivovarov, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Historical Sciences, founder of Departments of the former Soviet republic's history in several leading Russian universities. His monograph «Post-Soviet space: alternatives of integration» (St. Petersburg, 2008) observes current issues of the development of post-Soviet space, the interaction of Russia and former Soviet republics, the process of their integration and issues of post-Soviet economic modernization on three levels (national-regional-global). Due to globalization, countries have to improve their economic systems.
A. Kazancev's study «"Big" game with unknown rules: world policy and Central Asia» (Moscow, 2008) analyses the structure of international interactions in Central Asia in 1991-2008 and its influence on major world states' regional policies; the complex dynamics of clashes of interests or cooperation between major players in the region; energy policy.
«Consolidation of potential. The Caspian five» (Moscow, 2009), a report by independent Azerbaijani, Kazakh and Russian experts on the main issues of the Caspian region is of particular interest. In their opinion, regional policy influences the five countries welfare. For
external players, the Caspian Sea is means of working out problems of theirs, which have no correlations to regional nations. Cooperation between the five sides could result in the successful development of the region.
The formation of the Caspian Economic Cooperation Organization, an intergovernmental structure including Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan, could have positive economic and political meaning for the whole region.
To be continued.
Ismail Agakishev
