Citizenship Dynamics in the Soviet Borderlands: A Case Study of Armenians of Nakhijevan

Abstract

The study investigates how ethnic groups in the peripheral regions of the Soviet Union experienced their social rights. Throughout the Soviet era, authorities implemented nation-building policies that oɼen involved delineating borders without consideration for ethnic or historical boundaries. Consequently, this approach has occasionally led to the emergence of multi-ethnic regions, of which Nakhijevan is a good example. The study makes a meaningful contribution to the academic understanding of the South Caucasus region, oɥering insights into the intricate interplay between historical policies, ethnic dynamics and contemporary challenges in the realm of social rights of citizenship. Because of the limited availability of archival materials, the study relies on oral history testimonies and focuses on the case of Armenians residing in Soviet Nakhijevan under the administration of Soviet Azerbaijan. To demonstrate that Armenians have a historical connection with Nakhijevan, the study introduces the concept of “historical citizenship”. It argues that Armenians of Nakhijevan regarded themselves as full citizens of the state since, in the Soviet Union, social rights were deɹned as core elements for inclusion in society. Furthermore, it contends that the coexistence of Armenians and Azerbaijanis under one state was facilitated by the notion of the “Soviet citizen” and that, despite facing certain challenges, Armenians consented to live under the rule of Azerbaijani authorities, seeking the opportunity to reside in their historical homeland.