The Political Discourse of the Azerbaijani Elite on the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict (1991-2009)

This article attempts to analyse the political discourse of some of the Azerbaijani elite on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through the lens of the views of leading members of Azerbaijani society. The information is based on personal interviews conducted with some influential members of the Azerbaijani political society in Baku in December 2001 and April 2009. The focus of the study was to analyse how Azerbaijanis (re) construct their ideas about Armenian identity and community. The Azerbaijani narration of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict reveals how they have isolated themselves from their neighbours and from Western powers and how they legitimise their isolation