Main paradigms of post-independence Azerbaijan's security and foreign policy

According to realism, the most important goal of foreign policy is to provide security. Therefore, security policies have been accepted as the high-level policy area that has the quality of reference among other state policies. On the other hand, developed countries, put social welfare at the forefront by experiencing a shift from realism to rationalism in foreign policy. Nevertheless, achieving these democratic ideals for independent states or former colonial countries is an ideal that will take some time. In this context, the evolutionary process of foreign policy has been the best topic for academicians and researchers. So, this thesis focuses on the question of how the security and foreign policy of Azerbaijan has been developed and shaped from the time of its independence as a Trans-Caucasian country. Azerbaijan is the largest and most important country of the trans-Caucasus in terms of its geopolitical position and potential. To be located between Iran, Russia, and Turkey, and become a transition country from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea, and fossil resources make it very important geopolitically. Hence the central government of the Soviet Union and the other major powers after the independence tried to keep a close relationship with Azerbaijan till nowadays. The policies of the Soviet period that made the periphery dependent made it difficult for Azerbaijan to follow independent policies after the independence and made it necessary to observe the balance element in foreign policy. Since the first years of its independence, Azerbaijan followed a policy to change this balance of power in favor of Azerbaijan and gradually increased its relations with the international community. Therefore, security and foreign policy of Azerbaijan manifest themselves in the form of neutrality, non-alignment, and balance of power. Energy security, which is tried to be protected through strategic partnerships, constitutes the proactive aspect of this policy.