Regional Power Struggles Fuel Azerbaijan's Ethnic Cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh
Azerbaijan's recent offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave, is part of a long-standing conflict fueled by regional power struggles and historical tensions. The conflict traces back to the Soviet period, when the Bolsheviks attached Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan instead of Armenia, leading to ethnic fragmentation and nationalist grievances. The collapse of the Soviet Union further exacerbated these tensions, resulting in civil conflict and war. Today, Azerbaijan's military assault has led to the displacement of the Armenian population and the dismantling of Nagorno-Karabakh's political structures. The conflict highlights the challenges of nation-building, the erosion of the liberal international order, and the complex dynamics of the region.