The Nexus between National Identity and Foreign Policy in South Caucasian States: Azerbaijan and Georgia

Abstract

After the dissolution of USSR, Azerbaijan and Georgia, like other newly independent states, tended to fill in the identity vacuum which arguably shown up from the debris of Soviet Union. On the other hand, gaining independence led to several eclectic foreign policy directions for both Azerbaijan and Georgia. However, both countries lacked clear foreign policy vision in the initial phases of their independence because of internal and external threats. After Abulfaz Elchibay’s coming to power, the national identity in newly independent, economically and politically deranged Azerbaijan was reoriented. His ethno-nationalist point of view insisted that every nation should be called according to its ethnic origin rather than the name of its territory. Logically, the Azerbaijani language was labelled as “Turkish” language as a part of his whole scenario. Generally speaking, Azerbaijan was shifted from the Russian-oriented country to the Turkish-oriented country. When Heydar Aliyev came to power, the next shift occurred in the nation building process. The decision-makers of his administration tended to re-build the national identity on the basis of civic dimension. In this regard, the language and the nation were re-called “Azerbaijan” and Azerbaijanis” respectively. The pro-Turkish foreign policy of Elchibay administration was re-directed toward Russian and Iran. On the other hand, rejoining of Azerbaijan to CIS was agreed by H. Aliyev. His nationalist identity policy based on civic elements has been enhanced later by his son – the current president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. He also decorated the nation building process – succeeded by his father – with multicultural elements of Azerbaijani people. It is observed that Georgia, like Azerbaijan, had passed the same path in terms of the construction of identity in the early period of its independence. Zviad Gamsakhurdia, the first president of the Republic of Georgia, favored ethno-nationalistic way of nation building, also Pan-Caucasianism, unlike Elchibay. Therefore, the anti-Russian foreign policy elements were being dawned on the actions of his administration. Resulting with separatist actions in Abkhazia and Ossetia, he was substituted with Eduard Shevardnadze by the will of people in 1992. In the initial phases of his office period, the rapprochement with Russia characterised the foreign policy direction of his administration. On the other hand, by the beginning of the second millennium, some pro-Western sentiments had taken a part in his policy. After 2003 Rose Revolution, under Mikhael Saakashvili’s leadership, Georgia experienced clear-sighted pro-Western inclination within it, and its foreign policy. As a president, M. Saakashvili was frequently stressing the European elements of the identity of Georgian people. In the following period, under Georgian Dream Government, led by politician and businessman Bidzina Ivanashvili, pro-Russian sentiments have been felt within Georgian foreign policy, but the European elements of the identity are still dominant on the minds of decision-makers.