LILIT MAYILYAN
the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan . After the official recognition , the countries established diplomatic relations on January 14 , 1992 . Turkey ’ s positive image in Azerbaijan is due to its economic development , secularism , and close ties with the West , and this helped to build economic and political ties as well . However , since early 1993 , the romanticized relations have been subject to challenges and shifts . Despite the steadily improving friendly relations and the strategic partnership between these two countries , there are several challenges posed by changing realities and perceptions . The identification of these challenges and contingencies is crucial for understanding the real dynamics of bilateral relations and challenging the narrative of the “ uniqueness ” of Turkish-Azerbaijani relations .
This study consists of three main parts . The first part sheds light on the academic literature tackling Turkish-Azerbaijani relations . The second part maps out the dynamics of the development of relations from the initial stage of engagement in the 1990s as well as the milestones of bilateral relations elaborating on each country ' s place in the other ’ s foreign policy . The third section examines the parameters of contingencies in bilateral relations in the political , economic and cultural spheres and the countries ’ positions on these issues . The key findings of the research are provided in the conclusion .
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Literature review Defining Turkish-Azerbaijani relations
A considerable amount of literature tackles the dynamics of Turkish-Azerbaijani bilateral relations . The literature on Turkish- Azerbaijani relations mainly focuses on the phases of the development of relations ( from romanticism to pragmatism ). Other much-discussed pillars of relations are ethnic kinship and energy cooperation as the main determinants of relations .
The common opinion is that the alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkey encapsulated in the “ One nation , two states ” discourse is mostly defined by their historical , ethnic , and cultural bonds . This approach is shared by most experts . The academic literature identifies three stages in the dynamics of Turkish-Azerbaijani relations . The first phase from 1991 to 1993 evolved in the narrative of “ high expectations and hopes and