Exploring peace perspectives in post-war Azerbaijan: a comparative analysis of governmental and civil society views on conflict resolution

Abstract

This thesis investigates how the concept of “peace” is discursively constructed in post-war Azerbaijan following the 2020 Second Karabakh War and the 2023 military operation that solidified Azerbaijan’s control over Nagorno-Karabakh. It compares and contrasts the peace narratives advanced by the Azerbaijani government and civil society actors. While the government promotes a securitized and state-centric vision of peace, often referred to as “Winner’s Peace”, that emphasizes territorial integrity, military victory, and regime stability, civil society actors advocate for a more inclusive, justice-oriented, and transformative approach rooted in liberal peacebuilding principles. Through qualitative discourse analysis of political speeches, media statements, civil society publications, and interviews with peace activists, the research identifies key divergences and occasional overlaps between these two narratives. The study finds that the government’s discourse aligns with the framework of illiberal peace, marginalizing dissenting voices and excluding reconciliation-based approaches. In contrast, civil society actors, though politically constrained, promote people-to-people dialogue, transitional justice, and historical recognition. The thesis concludes that peace in Azerbaijan remains a contested and politically charged concept, shaped by asymmetrical power relations that limit pluralistic discourse and constrain prospects for sustainable conflict transformation.