Farid SHAFIEV

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Farid Shafiev, Counselor at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Canada. M.A. in History and Law from Baku State University, and MPA from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. In diplomatic service since 1996. Previously served in Azerbaijan’s Mission to the U.N. in New York. Headed the International Security Affairs Section at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Baku, Azerbaijan).

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ETHNIC MYTHS AND PERCEPTIONS AS A HURDLE TO CONFLICT SETTLEMENT: THE ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI CASE

ABSTRACT

In their search for conflict settlement, the parties and mediators concerned focus on political and economic formulae which address such major concerns as territorial arrangements, power sharing agreements, allocation of resources, and so forth. But in the case of ethnic conflicts, the myths and perceptions created both before and during the conflict are impeding the settlement process along with the very reasons for the conflict-territorial disputes and minority problems. This essay explores the influence of these myths and perceptions on the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. It illustrates the perspectives of the two sides in the conflict on the history of Nagorno-Karabakh and on the past events related to the conflict. The author gives the theoretical background of the relations revolving around ethnic identity, myths, and the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. He concludes that in the case of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, it will be impossible to attain a sustainable peace without addressing the problems created by the myths, prejudices, and misperceptions. Therefore, increasingly solving the problems through greater interaction between the two ethnic groups within the given territorial framework is the only possible option for complete and durable settlement………

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