Paper short abstract:

This paper seeks to find answers to how Azerbaijani women of transition remember the Soviet past, how collective memory has de- and re-constructed their collective identity, as well as how rethinking colonial past can deter Russia’s ultimate goal in the post-Soviet space, especially the Caucasus.

Paper long abstract:

By the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the social, political and economic transformation had a major impact on Azerbaijani society that was part of the 'empire' for seventy years. The way in which subjects recall the colonial past is as essential as the perspectives offered by the field of sociological history. This paper examines the gendered collective memory of the Soviet to post-Soviet transition in Azerbaijan and de- and re-construction of collective identity. The qualitative data draws upon the ethnographic fieldwork that was implemented in four cities of Azerbaijan in 2022 by conducting biographical interviews with women who experienced life under the Soviet regime, have gone through transformation in 1990's and are currently based in Azerbaijan. The account of first-hand life stories suggests that collective memory of the Soviet past and transition encompasses both nostalgic sentiments and cultural trauma. By applying comparative analysis, I aim to explore historical consciousness and political awareness from a gender perspective. The objective of this research is to highlight the importance of memory studies in careful analysis of the current geopolitical situation in the region, namely the Caucasus. Understanding how gender inequality correlates with political unawareness underlines the significance of women's participation in politics, especially the peace-building process in the South Caucasus. It is a matter of the utmost importance to investigate how collective memory of the colonial past predicts the future of political and social relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, especially the latter being a key player in the ongoing Karabakh conflict.