Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T00:33:45.141Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

State, identity, and the politics of music: Eurovision and nation-building in Azerbaijan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2018

Murad Ismayilov
Murad Ismayilov*
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge & Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy
*
∗Email: murad.ismayilov@cantab.net or mismayilov@ada.edu.az
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Albeit often — and fairly — degraded in the world of high culture as a populist and politicized representation of music, the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) — by sheer virtue of the populist and politicized nature of its essence — stands among the most consequential cultural encounters to which post-independence Azerbaijan has been exposed, in that the extent to which Baku's victory in the ESC-2011 — and the further developments this victory has generated — can potentially impact on, and contribute to, the very process of nation-building and national identity formation, with which this post-Soviet Muslim-majority country is currently struggling, is unparalleled by any of the state's earlier encounters of the kind. This paper focuses on, and examines, four intimately related ways in which the ESC and Azerbaijan's successful involvement with the latter worked to interfere with the country's nation-building: as a dubious factor in the evolution of the Western sense of self among Azerbaijanis; as a unifying force within the structure of the country's rapidly maturing civil society; as a medium working to open up a channel through which Western popular cultural elements could interfere with the evolving dynamics of, and work to globalize, indeed de-endogenize, indigenous Azerbaijani culture, on one hand, and unify the discursive realm within which the country's cultural domain is to further evolve, on the other; and, finally, as an important element serving to decouple the evolving processes within the country's cultural domain from the unfolding dynamics of conflict settlement and hence conducive to the diversification of public discourse in Azerbaijan.

Keywords

AzerbaijanEurovisionpolitics of musicnational identityculturecultural diplomacycivil society
Type
Articles
Information
Nationalities Papers , Volume 40 , Issue 6 , November 2012 , pp. 833 - 851
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The moral rights of the named author(s) have been asserted.
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 Association for the Study of Nationalities

References

Abbasov, Shahin. “Azerbaijan's Eurovision's Story: Great Chances to Improve, But No Political Will.” Caucasus Analytical Digest 32. 5 (December 2011): 2–4. Print.Google Scholar
“Activists Seek Eurovision Conscience.” View and News from Norway, 30 January 2011. Web. 22 June 2012.Google Scholar
“A Eurasian Enigma Lifts Its Veil: What Eurovision Told the World about Azerbaijan.” Caspian Information Centre, Occasional Paper, No. 20, June 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
“A Free AzerbaijanPages Application for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch Created in the Run-up to Eurovision.” Day.az, in Russian. 26 January 2012. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“Alexander Rybak: Eurovision in Baku Is Going to Be Grandiose.” Day.az, in Russian. 26 January 2012. Web. 22 June 2012.Google Scholar
“Ali Hasanov: ‘The Baku Government Condemns the Politicization of the Eurovision Contest.”’ Day.az, in Russian. 24 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
Altman, Diana. “May I Introduce Azerbaijan? The Karabakh Foundation's Individual Approach to Cultural Diplomacy.” Azerbaijan in the World IV.12 (15 June 2011): 5–7. Web. 31 Jan. 2012.Google Scholar
Amani, Asian. “Eurovision Can Transform Azerbaijan.” The Guardian, 17 May 2011. Web. 29 Jan. 2012.Google Scholar
“An Abuse of Stupidity, Or How Armenian Propaganda ‘Defames’ Eurovision 2012.” Day.az, in Russian. 28 October 2011. Web. 3 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“An Azerbaijani Minister Denies Rumours of Billions Spent on Eurovision.” Day.az, in Russian. 13 December 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“An Azerbaijani Singer to Sing a Duet with the Croatian Representative at Eurovision.” Day.az, in Russian. 24 April 2012. Web. 4 May 2012.Google Scholar
“An MP: ‘Armenia is Afraid of Shame in the ESC-2012.”’ Day.az, in Russian. 7 March 2012. Web. 3 May 2012.Google Scholar
“An MP: Armenia's Non-Participation in the ESC in Baku Will Hit Armenia Itself.” Day.az, in Russian. 7 March 2012. Web. 3 May 2012.Google Scholar
“An NGO ‘Eurovision’ Headquarters Group is to Be Set Up in Azerbaijan.” Day.az, in Russian. 24 January 2012. Web. 3 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
Antidze, Margarita. “Azerbaijan's People and President Praised Their Victorious Eurovision Song Contest Duo.” Reuters, 16 May 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“Armenia Pulls Out of Azerbaijan-hosted Eurovision Show.” BBC News, 7 March 2012. Web. 3 May 2012.Google Scholar
“Armenia Withdraws from Eurovision 2012!” Eurovision News, 7 March 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
Aslanov, Asian. “Victory in the Eurovision Song Contest-2011 is a Success of Entire Azerbaijan.” Day.az, in Russian. 21 July 2011. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
“A Touristic Atlas of Baku Published.” Day.az, in Russian. 31 January 2012. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“Azerbaijan Airlines Expands Network as Azerbaijan Aims to Raise Tourism Profile.” CAPA Centre for Aviation, 14 June 2012. Web. 13 Aug. 2012.Google Scholar
“Azerbaijan: Opposition Activist Freed as pre-Eurovision Hunger Strike Begins.” Amnesty International, Press Release, PRE01/256/2012, 16 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
“Azerbaijani Parliament Passed a Letter of Protest Against the European Parliament Resolution.” Day.az, in Russian. 29 May 2012. Web. 24 June 2012.Google Scholar
“Azerbaijan's MFA Accused the European Parliament of an Unfair Approach.” Day.az, in Russian. 25 May 2012. Web. 24 June 2012.Google Scholar
“Azerbaijan's Mugham Performers Will Join with the US Classical Quartet.” Day.az, in Russian. 16 November 2012. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“Azerbaijan's Presidential Administration Accused the European Parliament of Bias.” Day.az, in Russian. 25 May 2012. Web. 24 June 2012.Google Scholar
Baghirova, Sana. “Azerbaijani Mugham: Declared Masterpiece of Oral World Heritage by UNESCO.” Azerbaijan International 11.4 (Winter 2003): 25. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“Baku 2012: Year of Eurovision.” Trend.az, 28 December 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
Barry, Ellen. “Eurovision Joy Deflects Cares for a While.” The New York Times, 15 May 2011. Web. 31 Jan. 2012.Google Scholar
Bryza, Matthew. “Eurovision Could Prompt Azerbaijan to Change Tune.” Bloomberg, 25 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
Buker, Samantha. “Kronos Quartet and Alim Qasimov.” The Washington Post, 19 February 2012 Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“Can Eurovision Burnish Azerbaijan's Image?” Spiegel International, 15 May 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“43 Countries Represented at Eurovision in 2012.” Eurovision News, 17 January 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
“Danish Songwriter Headhunted by Azerbaijan's Nikki.” Eurovision News, 2 March 2012. Web. 4 May 2012.Google Scholar
Dayan, Daniel, and Katz, Elihu. Media Events: The Live Broadcasting of History. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard UP, 1992. Print.Google Scholar
“Details on Visa and Accreditation for Baku.” Eurovision News, 10 February 2012. Web. 4 May 2012.Google Scholar
“Doha, Baku, Promote 2020 Summer Games Bids.” GamesBids.com, 12 January 2012. Web. 13 Aug. 2012.Google Scholar
Edwards, Haley. “Power Ballad.” Foreign Policy, 24 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012. “Elchin: Eurovision Victory is a Propaganda of Azerbaijani Culture and an Indicator of Our Country's Progress.” Day.az, in Russian. 16 May 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
Erickson, Amanda. “In Baku, a Citywide Coming-Out Party for Eurovision.” The Atlantic Cities, 27 January 2012. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
European Parliament Resolution of 24 May 2012 on the Human Rights Situation in Azerbaijan, 2012/2654(RSP). Web. 24 June 2012.Google Scholar
“Eurovision 2011 Winner Talked about His Engagements on Facebook.” Day.az, in Russian. 19 February 2012. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“Eurovision 2012: In Anticipation of a Great Feast.” Trend.az, in Russian. 19 March 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
“Eurovision is Going to Improve Azerbaijan's Image.” Day.az, in Russian. 26 January 2012. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“Eurovision Puts Spotlight on Azerbaijan Human Rights.” BBC News, 23 March 2012. Web. 22 June 2012.Google Scholar
“Eurovision Winner Eldar Revealed the Details of the Family Biography.” Day.az, in Russian. 16 June 2011. Web. 3 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“Eurovision Winners Enjoy Fly to Baku Exhibition.” News.az, 19 January 2012. Web. 1 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
Ewing, Jack. “Singers from Azerbaijan Win Eurovision Contest.” The New York Times, 15 May 2011. Web. 22 June 2012.Google Scholar
Faig gizi, Natavan. “Alim Qasimov: Azerbaijan's Golden Voice.” Visions of Azerbaijan 3.1 (Winter 2008): 68–76. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“Foreign Ministry: ‘Eurovision Enabled Azerbaijan to Showcase Its Potential.”’ Trend.az, 27 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
“Gay Parade in Baku: To Be Or Not To Be?” News.az, 12 January 2012. Web. 30 Jan. 2012.Google Scholar
G. E. “Can Engelbert Humperdinck Free Azerbaijan?” The Economist, 2 March 2012. Web. 22 June 2012.Google Scholar
Gellner, Ernest. Nations and Nationalism. Ithaca, NY: Cornell UP, 1983. Print.Google Scholar
G. L. “Songs, But Not Of Freedom.” The Economist, 28 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
Goble, Paul. “Azerbaijani Eurovision Victory Puts Baku in a New League.” Azerbaijan in the World 4.10 (15 May 2011). Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
Gogia, Giorgi. “Eurovision: The View from a Courtroom.” The Wall Street Journal, 23 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
Goncharenko, Roman. “Eurovision Spotlights Human Rights in Azerbaijan.” Deutsche Welle, 17 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
Gould, Kevin. “Baku and Beyond: A Road-Trip around Azerbaijan.” The Guardian, 21 May 2011. Web. 22 June 2012.Google Scholar
Gurbanov, Fakhraddin. “All Change in Azerbaijan Long before Eurovision.” The Guardian, 20 May 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
Hale, Jacqueline. “Azeri-vision.” European Voice, 25 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
Hamidov, Hamid. “Armenia Withdraws from Eurovision. The Armenians are Deprived of the Feast.” Day.az, 7 March 2012. Web. 3 May 2012.Google Scholar
Herszenhorn, David M. “Welcoming Eurovision, but Not the Scrutiny.” The New York Times, 23 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
“Ilham Aliyev: ‘Our Future is in Our Hands.”’ Al Jazeera, Frost Over the World, 16 October 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“Interest for Azerbaijan Heightened in Google.” Day.az, in Russian. 30 June 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“Interest in Azerbaijan Up by a Whopping 4,662% Following their Eurovision Success.” Breaking Travel News, 16 May 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
Isayeva, Ulker. “On Homosexuality and Tolerance.” 1news.az, in Russian. 26 January 2012. Web. 30 Jan. 2012.Google Scholar
Ismayilova, Khadija. “Azerbaijan: Baku's Deep Pockets for Art Abroad Contrasts with Restrictions at Home.” Eurasianet.org, 4 November 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
Ismayilov, Murad, and Tkacik, Michael. “Nation-Building and State-Building in Azerbaijan: The Challenges of Education Abroad.” Turkish Policy Quarterly, (Winter 2009/2010): 89–104. Print.Google Scholar
Krikorian, Onnik. “Opinion Divided on Armenian Withdrawal from Eurovision.” Ararat, 22 March 2012. Web. 3 May 2012.Google Scholar
Krupinska, Silvia. “Fly to Baku Exhibition and London Art Fair Approaching.” Art Review, 15 January 2012. Web. 1 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
Langer, Annette. “Azerbaijan Flouts Free Press on Eve of Eurovision.” Spiegel International, 2 April 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
“Leyla Aliyeva: ‘Eurovision-2012 is a Wonderful Opportunity to Tell about Our Country, Culture, Traditions, and History.”’ Day.az, in Russian. 8 June 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
Lunacek, Ulrike. “EU Will Monitor Azerbaijan Following Eurovision.” Public Service Europe, 31 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
Mamedov, Elman. “Azerbaijan Slams Critics Ahead of Eurovision.” Al Arabiya News, 21 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
Mammadyarov, Elmar. “Azerbaijan's Achievement.” The Wall Street Journal, 23 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
Mayr, Walter. “German Government Report Slams ‘State Repression.”’ Spiegel International, 2 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
McGuinness, Damien. “Evicted in Baku to Make Way for Eurovision.” BBC News, 22 December 2011. Web. 22 June 2012.Google Scholar
McLaughlin, Daniel. “East Meets West.” The Irish Times, 26 May 2012. Web. 22 June 2012.Google Scholar
“Mehriban Aliyeva: ‘The Key Objective of Our Activity is the Popularisation of Azerbaijan, Its Rich Culture, and History.”’ Day.az, in Russian. 16 April 2012. Web. 1 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“Member of Parliament: ‘Eurovision 2011 Victory is a Result of Azerbaijan's Rising Profile.”’ Day.az, in Russian. 15 May 2011. Web. 31 Jan. 2012.Google Scholar
“Milli Majlis Speaker Forwarded a Letter of Protest to His European Counterpart.” Day.az, in Russian. 26 May 2012. Web. 24 June 2012.Google Scholar
Mock, Vanessa. “Host Scores Well — For Corruption.” The Wall Street Journal, 25 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
Muradova, Mina. “The Political Ramifications of Azerbaijan's Eurovision Victory.” Central Asia — Caucasus Institute Analyst, 25 May 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2012.Google Scholar
Mustafa Zadeh, Aziza, and Blair, Betty. “Jazz, Mugam and Other Essentials of My Life.” Azerbaijan International 4.4 (Winter 1996): 20–23, 71. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
Neukirch, Ralf. “Azerbaijan Seeks to Burnish Image Ahead of Eurovision.” Spiegel International, 4 January 2012. Web. 22 June 2012.Google Scholar
Nuhiu, Rinor. “EBU: Armenia to Face Sanctions for Late Withdrawal.” ESCDaily.com, 2 May 2012. Web. 3 May 2012.Google Scholar
“63% of Outdoor Advertising in Azerbaijan Written in English and 2% in Uncertain Language.” ABC.az, 21 December 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“Parliamentarian Calls on the Revision of Relations with the European Parliament.” Day.az, in Russian. 25 May 2012. Web. 24 June 2012.Google Scholar
“Parliamentarian Pointed to Reasons behind Envy towards Azerbaijan.” Day.az, in Russian. 24 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
Peter, Savodnik. “Eurovision: Nation Branding via Cheesy Pop Music.” Bloomberg Businessweek, 9 June 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“Political Legitimacy is About More than Eurovision.” The Independent, 23 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
“Presidential Administration: ‘Eurovision Guests will See First Hand that Anti-Azerbaijani Publications are Slanderous.”’ Day.az, in Russian. 15 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
“President's Office: ‘Freedom of Press is Fully Guaranteed in Azerbaijan.”’ Day.az, in Russian. 16 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
Raykoff, Ivan, and Deam Tobin, Robert, eds. A Song for Europe: Popular Music and Politics in the Eurovision Song Contest. Surrey, UK: Ashgate, 2007. Print.Google Scholar
“Search Queries on ‘Azerbaijan’ are Among the Top Ten Most Popular on Google.” Day.az, in Russian. 31 May 2012. Web. 19 June 2012.Google Scholar
“Security Provision During the Eurovision Contest is a Responsibility of Every Citizen of Azerbaijan.” Day.az, in Russian. 18 May 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
“Sietse Bakker: ‘Baku Crystal Hall Leaves Behind the World's Most Modern Buildings for Its Composition.”’ APA, 18 May 2012. Web. 24 June 2012.Google Scholar
Siim, Jarmo. “Baku 2012: Light Your Fire!” Eurovision News, 25 January 2012. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“Speaker: ‘The Grandiose Success of Eurovision Sparked Envy Among Anti-Azerbaijani Forces.”’ Day.az, in Russian. 29 May 2012. Web. 24 June 2012.Google Scholar
Tariverdiyeva, Elmira. “Eurovision 2012: Yet Another Failure of Armenian Propaganda.” Trend.az, in Russian. 7 March 2012. Web. 3 May 2012.Google Scholar
Taylor, Jerome. “Eurovision: Light Entertainment in a Dark Place.” The Independent, 19 March 2012. Web. 22 June 2012.Google Scholar
“The Administration of President of Azerbaijan Accused the Armenian Side of Hypocrisy and Duplicity.” Day.az, in Russian. 13 December 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“The Administration of President of Azerbaijan on Details of Preparation for Eurovision-2012.” Day.az, in Russian. 25 May 2011. Web. 30 Jan. 2012.Google Scholar
“The ‘Fly to Baku. Contemporary Art of Azerbaijan’ Exhibition Opened in London.” Day.az, in Russian. 18 January 2012. Web. 1 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
“The Number of Tourists Who Visited Baku for Eurovision-2012 Named.” Day.az, in Russian. 12 June 2012. Web. 21 June 2012.Google Scholar
“‘They Took Everything From Me:’ Forced Evictions, Unlawful Expropriations, and House Demolitions in Azerbaijan's Capital.” Human Rights Watch, February 2012. Web. 23 June 2012.Google Scholar
Weaver, Courtney. “Azerbaijan Tourism: Eurovision Edition.” Financial Times, 22 May 2012. Web. 13 Aug. 2012.Google Scholar
“Website for Homosexuals Launched in Azerbaijan.” News.az, 21 May 2011. Web. 30 Jan. 2012.Google Scholar
“Yerevan's Political Indigestion, Or How Armenians Defame Eurovision in Baku.” Day.az, in Russian. 28 November 2011. Web. 3 Feb. 2012.Google Scholar
Zakaria, Fareed. “Zakaria: The Geopolitics of the Eurovision Song Contest.” CNN World, 19 March 2012. Web. 26 Apr. 2012.Google Scholar