Paper short abstract:

The creation of new, heavily controlled open spaces in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku leaves people with an increasing feeling of uncertainty in the public sphere. This paper asks how inhabitants deal with this feeling and what kind of strategies they develop in order to create their own places.

Paper long abstract:

When the so called "Second oilboom" started in the mid-1990s, the Azerbaijani government set up to represent its new wealth in the capital Baku by creating more and more places where the citizens feel heavily controlled through cameras, police or private security companies patrolling squares, parks and malls. Public assemblies are forbidden almost everywhere in order to prevent public demonstrations and unrest. Within the elder generation this leads to an increasing sense not to belong to the city anymore. Due to the living conditions it is even more difficult for the younger generation: Most of them stay with their parents or other relatives until they get married and even then many of them do not find an affordable apartment to move out from their parents. Meeting in the public sphere is often the only way to get together with friends or encounter the other sex. Though in this controlled environment those free spaces are limited, and semi-public places such as cafes and restaurants and clubs are usually expensive and also well-guarded. The paper shows how young people create mostly temporary free spaces through unofficial gatherings such as flashmobs and examines how the official side and other inhabitants respond to these actions. The upcoming Eurovision Song Contest will challenge the fragile balance between controlling and contesting public spaces even further.