Ethnic Dilemma in Iranian Azerbaijan during Post-Soviet Era: Impacts on Multilateral Trade under ECO

Abstract

Since the division of Azerbaijan region between Iran and Imperial Russia in 1828, Iranian Azerbaijan is experiencing different sorts of ethno-national movements. However, Post-Soviet era has triggered ethnic dilemma in the respective region. Historical rivalry among Azerbaijan and Armenia is the biggest cause of encouraging ethno-national movements in the region. As all ECO member states’ markets including Turkey have been connected to European markets via this region, this study highlights all the threats to multilateral trade under ECO agreement that would be disconnected in case of succeeding any existing movement in the region. Similarly, policies during Rafsanjani, Khatmi, Ahmadinijad and Rouhani regimes regarding countering ethnic dilemma in the region are also examined in this study while, economic worth of the region is also assessed in the last.