The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the level of economic and trade cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan starting from the beginning of its formation. I have used SWOT analysis tool to show different aspects which influence current level and further possibilities for cooperation. The study finds that, the EU is presently a major investor and trade partner of Azerbaijan. Up to latest time, the main factor of cooperation was the country's energy resources. However, later Azerbaijan has enlarged its participation by enrollment in the EU Eastern Partnership agreement and European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) and is currently closely working with the EU in a number of areas. Azerbaijan is seeking for the membership in the WTO which can potentially facilitate trade flows between the two parties and bring the country closer to the European market.

This master thesis aims to present the phenomenon of the Duthc disease. The thesis consist of theoretical and analytical part.

This study examines the correlation between tactics and technology in the case of the war overNagorno-Karabakh 2020, between Azerbaijan and Armenia. There is a debate going on aboutwhether the high-tech drones from Turkey and Israel were the decisive factors in the war, or if thetactical aspects and preparations is what gave the main success of the war.This will be tested against parts of Geoffrey Till ́s theory “Understanding victory” through a theoryconsuming case study using some of his perspectives, with qualitative text analysis of the empiricaldata consisting of think tanks, news articles, government documents and analysts ́ statements. Theresult of the study indicates that none of the perspectives could carry the war itself, but tactics werea slightly bigger factor for success.

School Choice has been introduced into several national education programs during the past three decades in Azerbaijan. Parents are invited to select from various schools to locate the one that “suits them the best”. However, there is a need to understand the factors that go into parents' decision-making when choosing primary schools for their children, especially in various native languages and educational fields. The purpose of the study is to explore Azerbaijani-speaking and Russian-speaking parents’ school choices at the primary education level in Azerbaijani and Russian sectors. Furthermore, the study investigates the factors influencing parents’ selections when selecting a primary school for their children, such as socioeconomic status, educational values, and cultural preferences. The study also aims to compare the school choice patterns of Azerbaijani-speaking and Russian-speaking parents, particularly emphasizing how their varied native languages may influence their decision-making processes. Additionally, this study presents a framework of the national policies regarding parental school choice in Azerbaijan. The study's theoretical frameworks were framed by Human Capital Approach (HCA), Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) and Capability Approach (CA). By utilizing these frameworks, parents can better understand the various factors that impact their decisions when choosing a school for their children and how these decisions can ultimately affect their children’s educational achievements. The HCA believes education is a valuable investment in human capital, and parents choose schools based on their perception of the returns on this investment. On the other hand, the HRBA sees education as a fundamental human right, and parents’ selection of schools should be based on fairness and non-discrimination principles. The CA emphasizes the importance of education in enhancing individual capabilities and freedoms. This research used qualitative research methodology will contribute to select the right school for children at the primary education level in Azerbaijan. The comparative perspective was based on the Azerbaijani-speaking and Russian-speaking parents. The semi-structured interviews with 12 participants were conducted to gather data, focusing on the factors influencing their decision-making processes and thematic analysis was applied to the data analysis. The author encountered codes and themes in the interview data through qualitative research methods and thematic analysis. This approach provided detailed insights into the complex and diverse nature of parents’ school choice decisions. Overall, the research on parents in Azerbaijan found that they, irrespective of their native language, possess a keen interest in and knowledge of factors that impact their decision in selecting primary schools for their children. This highlights the significance of considering aspects such as language options, school location, and reputation while devising policies to offer quality education to all children. Further exploration is necessary to comprehend the decision-making approach of parents and develop effective tactics to support them in making informed and appropriate school selections. Finally, the implications to the policy and practices for school choice are discussed.

The main aim of the given thesis is to investigate the impact of gender-based stereotypes and public opinion on intimate partner violence in the South Caucasus and offer the reader recommendations to change the existing alarming situation. As a theoretical background of the study, Patriarchy theory and General Systems theory will be used based on which the influences of stereotypes on the intimate partner violence in the region will be explained. While following study covers 3 countries, the cross-cultural comparison and content analysis will be used as methodological tools. The findings show that in three of the countries -Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia traditional gender-based attitudes shape the main behavioral patterns of perpetrators and victims. The intervention of western European states and increasing public awareness seems to be the most appropriate solution of the existing situation.

This work applies geopolitical concepts to elucidate how geography, energy, and rivalries among global powers affect the Azeri foreign policy. This research work uses a deductive method of qualitative research and a longitudinal analysis of qualitative variables. This study first reviews the most significant academic works in the field to delineate the framework of Azerbaijani foreign policy. Next, it discusses the geographical features of the Azeri landlocked territory and its influence over foreign policy. Then the study presents how Azerbaijan uses its energy as a leverage tool in its foreign policy. The fourth chapter analyzes the current competition between two global powers, the US and Russia, for influence over Azeri oil and gas resources, seeking to balance the power in the South Caucasus and Central Asian regions. Finally, this research work lists the findings, showing that the Azeri foreign policy is affected by geography, energy, and global power competition variables. The transit states that encircle the landlocked territory of Azerbaijan reduce the Azeri ability to export its energy resources to international markets. The economic and political involvement of foreign companies and states in the Azeri energy industry also reduces the economic and political independence of Azerbaijan. The competition between the US and Russia for influence over the Azeri territory and its energy resources also affects the foreign policy of Azerbaijan. Thus, in order to achieve economic, political, and military stability, Azerbaijan has to be constantly balancing regional and global powers

The purpose of this research is to address how geopolitical factors influence the foreign policies of states in the South Caucasus. Due to the recent Russia-Georgia War, this region is central to contemporary foreign policy, fueling discussions of a New Cold War between the US and Russia. With the explicit goal to provide policy relevant research on this critical region, the South Caucasus states (Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia) are examined in three separate case studies. Utilizing qualitative analysis of historical event data, each case examines the role of five different variables: energy resources, routes, demography, proximity, and state leadership. That research reveals several corollary relationships. First, demographic (ethnic/religious) cleavages are found to define the borders of separatist conflicts and to be positively correlated with state perceptions of threat that follow from the proximity of foreign powers to separatist regions. Energy resources and routes define economic conflict and are positively correlated with perceptions of threat resulting from the proximity of foreign powers to these strategic points. Finally, state leadership is correlated with the value placed on demographic groups, resources, and routes in the foreign policies of the South Caucasus states and the subsequent balance of threat behavior exhibited in each state's foreign policy orientation. These findings are consequential for the discipline of International Relations, demonstrating the contemporary relevance of geopolitical variables. Specifically, the synthesis of these variables provides significant explanations of where, with whom, and why conflicts have emerged in the South Caucasus. Answering those questions is a vital step toward furthering the relevance of academic research for policy makers.

The difficulty garnering compensation for environmental destruction from climate change and armed conflicts has made states and organizations question whether international legal systems can protect the environment during peace or war. The case study compares how Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and the United Nations Environment Programme frame the environmental implications of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijan. The aim is to explore how states invoke environmental war crimes or environmental concerns to gain advantages in conflict resolution and whether international organizations change or adapt to help states obtain environmental justice. The results are obtained by combining the theory of environmental conflicts described by Fisher (2022a) and the national/international climate and security discourse described by McDonald (2018). The case study uses framing analysis to identify environmental problems in speeches, statements to the media, letters, reports, and press releases. The main findings indicate that Ukraine has gained more support in its fight for environmental justice than Azerbaijan. Although both states used similar frames and tactics in their environmental drivers, Ukraine's ability to continuously prove its seriousness about environmental destruction sets it apart from Azerbaijan. As terms like ecocide and eco-terror become more internationally recognized, states can use them to push international organizations to make legal changes about environmental justice. However, there is also a risk that states use the need for environmental justice to improve their international reputation in the aftermath of an armed conflict.

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