The Median and Albanian Theories of Azerbaijani Ethnogenesis in the Context of Political Transformations of the 20th Century
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51442/jgs.0068Keywords:
Azerbaijani historiography, discourse of indigeneity, theory of “Median origin”, theory of “Albanian origin”, manipulation of historical memory, cultural appropriationAbstract
The article examines the ideological formation of Azerbaijani historiography from the 1930s to the present day, focusing on the mechanisms through which the discourse of “autochthony” was constructed to present Azerbaijanis as an ancient people indigenous to the South Caucasus. It analyzes the emergence and development of the Median and Albanian theories as historical-political constructs shaped within the Soviet ideological framework and later adopted by the independent Azerbaijani state. The study demonstrates that these narratives have served primarily political rather than scholarly purposes, particularly in legitimizing the appropriation of Armenian cultural and historical heritage. Furthermore, it highlights how, in recent decades, similar ethno-genetic models have been adopted by Azerbaijan’s national minorities, who have begun constructing their own myths of “ancient statehood.” This phenomenon is interpreted as a process of “collective appropriation” aimed at replacing the region’s authentic historical memory with an artificial, politically advantageous mythology. Consequently, the article offers a critical perspective on the reconstruction of historical consciousness and the mechanisms of cultural memory manipulation in modern Azerbaijani historiography.
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