Azerbaijan: A Quest for Identity (Caucasus World) by Charles van der Leeuw - 0312219032 - Compare Discount Book Prices & Save up to 90%

This is the first history in English of Azerbaijan from the first evidence of inhabitation in pre-historic times to the oil-dominated political economy of today. Azerbaijan finds itself increasingly the focus of international attention, with the discovery of the Caspian region as one of the world's centers of production of oil and the increased strategic and cultural significance of the Caucasus in the post-Soviet period. Moreover, it is the only Shi'ite-dominated country in the world apart from Iran--and in contrast to its southern neighbor, an example of religious and social tolerance where the clergy have no place in politics. Drawing on a wide range of authorities, Charles van der Leeuw defines the concept of Azerbaijan national identity through the process of history, building up a clear picture of the modern nation, its people, and their aspirations.

		Azerbaijan: A Quest for Identity (Caucasus World) by Charles van der Leeuw ISBN-10: 0312219032 ISBN-10: 0-312-21903-2 ISBN-13: 9780312219031 ISBN-13: 978-0-312-21903-1 Hardcover 2000-07-21 Palgrave Macmillan Find Lowest Price
Editorials

Product Description This is the first history in English of Azerbaijan from the first evidence of inhabitation in pre-historic times to the oil-dominated political economy of today. Azerbaijan finds itself increasingly the focus of international attention, with the discovery of the Caspian region as one of the world's centers of production of oil and the increased strategic and cultural significance of the Caucasus in the post-Soviet period. Moreover, it is the only Shi'ite-dominated country in the world apart from Iran--and in contrast to its southern neighbor, an example of religious and social tolerance where the clergy have no place in politics. Drawing on a wide range of authorities, Charles van der Leeuw defines the concept of Azerbaijan national identity through the process of history, building up a clear picture of the modern nation, its people, and their aspirations.
Reviews

great book; and yes, ignore the review by "lusine" This is a great book about azerbaijani nation. Regarding the revue by 'lusine', I totally support C. Anderson's point. She seems to be emotional about the whole Azerbaijani-Armenian thing and therefore cannot be objective in her review.
Ignore the Previous Review Each side of the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia has totaly politized the history of this area. This book is a decent attempt to parse the history of this politicially contentious area. It seems that the previous review disagrees with the Mr. van der Leeuw's attempt at neutrality.
Anecdotal Errors or Deliberate Political Propaganda? Mr. Van Der Leeuw's book is incredibly clear in one thing - his enviable ability to turn a deaf ear and a blind eye. The worst breech of one's responsibility as a scholar is the inability to record objective reality, a failure that is in itself remarkable in the book. Aside from all the overt signs of successful braiwashing that the author has apparently undergone by his Azeri counterparts, he makes such glaring historical and political errors in the book that even a person with no background in history or political science (such as myself) will immediately pick up on them. The range of errors is almost anecdotal, I have never read a book that makes so many on such few pages. I would recommend that Mr. Van Der Leeuw consults a few relatively objective sources - beginning with a simple Britannica consultation about basic facts in the region and revises the book, unless amusement and harmless ironization is the objective of his writing.