Aynur Jalal Aghayeva

Published: 25/09/2026

FORMATION OF THE CONCEPTS OF FOREIGN POLICY AND THE NATIONAL STATE IN THE PARLIAMENTARY DISCUSSIONS OF THE AZERBAIJAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC (1918 -1920)

Abstract. This article analyzes the formation of state and nation concepts in the context of foreign policy based on the parliamentary stenographic records of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918–1920). The study reveals the mutual legitimacy of these concepts in parliamentary discourse and demonstrates how the national state model was integrated into foreign policy strategy.

Discourse analysis and conceptual historical methodology show that the parliament of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic functioned not only as a legislative body but also as a central platform shaping the normative and ideological foundations of the national state idea. The concept of the state was closely linked to the principles of sovereignty, legal legitimacy, and international recognition, while the notion of nation underwent a transformation from a religious-ethnic identity to a model based on political and civic principles. The deputies’ speeches illustrate that the parliamentary discourse played a crucial role in the development of the national state and foreign policy strategy, significantly shaping the state’s domestic and international policies.

Keywords: Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, parliamentary discourse, foreign policy, statehood, nation concept, conceptual history, parliamentary factions

 

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