The State as a (Oil) Company ? The Political Economy of Azerbaijan

Samuel Lussac (1)

1 SPIRIT - Science Politique Relations Internationales Territoire

In 1993, Azerbaijan was a country at war, suffering heavy human and economic losses. It was then the very example of a failing country in the post-soviet in the aftermath of the collapse of the USSR. More than 15 years after, it is one of the main energy partners of the European Union and is a leading actor in the Eurasian oil sector. How did such a change happen? How can Azerbaijan have become so important in the South Caucasian region in such a short notice? This paper will focus on the Azerbaijani oil transportation network. It will investigate how the Azerbaijani oil company SOCAR and the Azerbaijani presidency are progressively taking over this network, perceived as the main tool of the foreign policy of Azerbaijan. Dealing with the inner dynamics of the network, this paper will highlight the role of clanic and crony capitalist structures in the makings of a foreign policy and in the diversification of an emerging oil company.

Mots clés: SOCAR; South Caucasus; oil; network; Azerbaïdjan

Domaines: Science politique

Samuel Lussac. The State as a (Oil) Company ? The Political Economy of Azerbaijan. 2010. ⟨halshs-00516901⟩