CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VII (1, 2) Contemporary-Eurasia-3new | Page 40

CONTEMPORARY EURASIA
Content analysis strengthens this statement proving that the doctrine has
become the fundament for immense military growth guiding the defense
policies of Azerbaijan. Therefore, the fi rst hypothesis is accepted – the
Military Doctrine served as a guiding document for an immense military
build-up of Azerbaijan since 2010. Moreover, analysis of legal reforms
in military fi elds, as well as, the analyzed Presidential speeches illustrate,
that the Azerbaijani government uses external threats (particularly the
confl ict of Nagorno-Karabakh) to securitize the Azerbaijani nation. This,
of course, allows to achieve a high level of social unity and create public
support. Not only “speech act” mechanisms are used to trigger patriotic
feelings of the nation, but also the legal framework has been modifi ed to
provide limitless power for ruling elites and strengthen Army’s role in the
country. After the legal amendments, the Army has control over civilian
life and has a duty to control information fl ow, especially the information
concerning military situation in the front-line. Thus, the second hypothe-
sis is also considered as proved – the Military Doctrine created a baseline
for securitization of society by the Azerbaijani authorities legitimizing
possible military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh confl ict.
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