Islam in Post-Soviet Azerbaijan*

Abstract

Islam in Azerbaijan is a multifaceted phenomenon which can be understood only in the context of a society in transition. One of the most important problems of Azerbaijani Islam is the relationship between Shi'ism and Sunnite Islam which is still dominated by an ecumenical and sometimes eclectic spirit. This situation is increasingly beleaguered by foreign missionaries on the one hand and put under pressure by the dynamic development of Azerbaijani society on the other hand. Nowadays Islam plays only a very limited role in the political sphere and only a small part of the population supports the idea of establishing an ‘Islamic order'. This is due to the long tradition of secularism in Azerbaijan and to the fact that the strong nationalistic movement is secular in character and sometimes even fights together with the ruling elite against their rival, political Islam. But, on the longer run and if the political elite of Azerbaijan does not succeed in improving the disastrous standard of living of the vast majority of the people, the population may express its discontent through a politicized form of Islam.