The Strategic Position Of Azerbaijan In The Eurasian Pattern Study

Caucasus region acts as a key area in Euro-Asia political pattern. After the disintegration of Soviet Union, independence was declared by former Soviet Union Republics one after another; and Caucasus region's situation is more and more complicated owing to its geographical relations, history, nationalities, religions and resources, etc. As a member of Caucasus, Azerbaijan has a unique strategic importance. Through the introduction of Azerbaijan's geopolitical features and the dynamic relations between Azerbaijan and each main state actor as well as international organizations, Azerbaijan's importance in Euro-Asia political pattern and its puzzledom in selection of state development strategy are analyzed in this paper.Introduction generally gives prominence to Azerbaijan's strategic importance by analyzing its position in Euro-Asia political pattern from the views of western geopolitical theory and Russia's Euro-Asianism theory. Chapter 1 analyzes history transitions of Azerbaijan's geo-environment, dividing it into 3 phases, pre-1800s, post-1800s and post-1990s'independence, through which, the drives of transitions and its impacts upon current situation are analyzed. Chapter 2 discusses on Azerbaijan's position in Russian-America relations, maintaining that it's the structural contradictions between Russia and America that drives their competition in Euro-Asia region and fierce scramble for Azerbaijan, which covers many fields such as politics, economy and safety, and each country aims to bring Azerbaijan into their respectively dominated framework. Chapter 3 explores the relation between Azerbaijan and Europe by respective analysis upon the relation between Azerbaijan and NATO and EU. It believes that it's still a long way for Azerbaijan to be totally integrated into Europe despite that it has set"Europeanizing"as a national goal and modified its regimes according to Europe's relevant standards even since its establishment. Chapter 4 discusses on the relations between Azerbaijan and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent State), which are divided into 3 groups, Azerbaijan and other"GUUAM"group countries, Azerbaijan and Armenia as well as Azerbaijan and mid-Asia countries and Caspian Sea's adjacent countries, among which, the conflict with Armenia on Nagorno-Karabakh region is detrimental to the state development of Azerbaijan due to its importance on territorial integrity and independent sovereignty, however, it seems an endless way. Chapter 5 analyzes the relations between Azerbaijan and its two important adjacent countries—Turkey and Iran. As a neighboring country which originally belonged to the same country with Azerbaijan, Turkey greatly assists Azerbaijan, through which, its position and influence upon Caucasus Caspian Sea area is strengthened. Iran, as another adjacent country, has conflicts with Azerbaijan on cross-border nationalities'problem, and its relation with America puzzles Azerbaijan's selection. Finally, the conclusion summarizes factors of Azerbaijan's strategic importance in Euro-Asia political pattern and confirms its importance, and based on which, Azerbaijan's puzzledom in strategic selection is generalized and its prospects are predicted.