Democratic repertoires: the South Caucasus case(s)

Abstract

This chapter starts with an analysis of the reformed educational system for Azerbaijani women following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The main focus is to understand the state's efforts in this field as part of the nation-building process. The research also addresses the impact of growing Islamic aspirations on education challenges, particularly on women's education. The modernization process inevitably entailed changes in the social position of women and consequently was in line with a demand for women's education. Secular Russian schools appeared was the first Muslim girls' school in the Caucasus opened by the well-known philanthropist and oil millionaire Haji Zeynalabedin Taghiyev. The interplay between regional and non-domestic factors has shaped gender dynamics and the social status of women in Azerbaijan. The analysis of education statistics enables us to track the challenges of women's education and to measure the actual outcomes of the declared policy in the areas of education and gender equality.