The Center for Analysis of International Relations and Multiculturalism (AIR Center) is pleased to announce the addition of a new topic to its Autumn Call for Papers, titled “Peace through Strength: Core Messages and Emerging Foreign Policy Objectives in President Ilham Aliyev’s Address.”
We invite young Azerbaijani scholars and students to submit original contributions addressing this newly introduced theme, alongside the previously announced topic, “TRIPP (Zangezur) Corridor: Economic Opportunities and Regional Perspectives.”
About the Topic
On 2 October 2026, President Ilham Aliyev addressed the 8th Congress of the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), outlining key elements of Azerbaijan’s strategic outlook, foreign policy priorities, and future objectives. In his address, President Aliyev presented a set of principles expected to shape Azerbaijan’s foreign policy in the coming years, reflecting the country’s strategic priorities concerning security, sovereignty, international partnerships, national interests, and the mitigation of evolving strategic risks.
The address provides an important framework for examining Azerbaijan’s emerging foreign policy objectives in the context of changing regional and international realities. Particular emphasis was placed on the core pillars of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy doctrine: economic self-sufficiency, military strength, an independent foreign policy, and ideological resilience. Together, these principles form the basis of a balanced, multi-vector, and proactive foreign policy aimed at safeguarding Azerbaijan’s national interests, preserving its strategic autonomy, and ensuring the well-being and security of its people.
At the same time, this approach is closely linked to the objective of fostering sustainable peace in the South Caucasus at a time when surrounding regions are deeply affected by wars, conflicts, and geopolitical instability. On the one hand, Azerbaijan continues to work toward consolidating peace with Armenia, a process initiated by Baku following the restoration of its territorial integrity and sovereignty and further advanced through the Washington Declaration of 2025. On the other hand, Azerbaijan seeks to contribute to broader international peace and stability by offering its mediation and supporting international efforts aimed at resolving disputes and conflicts.
Nevertheless, the risks, threats, and potential provocations emanating from ongoing conflicts and instability in the wider region cannot be overlooked. Against this backdrop, Azerbaijan continues to strengthen its military and security capabilities, with its defence and national security expenditures planned to reach approximately AZN 9 billion in the coming year. This reflects a broader strategic understanding that sustainable peace must be supported by sufficient national capacity to safeguard sovereignty, deter external threats, and preserve an independent foreign policy.
In essence, Azerbaijan’s emerging strategic approach can be characterized as “peace through strength”: building the necessary economic, military, political, and ideological foundations to protect the country against external threats and potential provocations while pursuing an independent foreign policy oriented toward strengthening peace and stability in the South Caucasus. At the same time, Azerbaijan seeks to contribute to the region’s long-term development and interconnectedness through energy, transportation, infrastructure, and other regional cooperation projects.
Due to the addition of this new thematic topic, the submission deadline for the Autumn Call for Papers has been extended to 22 November 2026.
Suggested Sub-topics
Articles may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
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“Peace through Strength” as a foreign policy strategy: the relationship between national strength, security, deterrence, and sustainable peace in Azerbaijan’s strategic outlook;
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The core pillars of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy: economic self-sufficiency, military strength, an independent foreign policy, and ideological resilience;
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Azerbaijan’s independent, balanced, and multi-vector foreign policy: safeguarding national interests and strategic autonomy amid changing regional and global dynamics;
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Azerbaijan as a middle power in the evolving international order: the role of strategic autonomy, diversified partnerships, mediation, connectivity, and an independent foreign policy in shaping Azerbaijan’s growing regional and international role.
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Ideological resilience and the principle of non-interference: the role of national and secular values, societal resilience, sovereignty, and non-interference in Azerbaijan’s foreign policy approach;
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Azerbaijan’s post-conflict peace agenda: the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process and the consolidation of sustainable peace and stability in the South Caucasus;
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Azerbaijan’s role in international peace and conflict resolution: mediation initiatives and contributions to international efforts aimed at the peaceful settlement of disputes and conflicts;
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Security, connectivity, and regional development: strengthening national security while advancing energy, transportation, infrastructure, and other regional cooperation projects.
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2026-09-18
The Center for Analysis of International Relations and Multiculturalism (AIR Center) announces a call for papers on the topic “TRIPP (Zangezur) Corridor: Economic Opportunities and Regional Perspectives.” Following the signing of the Joint Declaration by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia in Washington on August 8, 2025, the Zangezur Corridor, also referred to as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), has gained renewed significance within the evolving regional connectivity and peace agenda. With the potential to strengthen trade, investment, transportation, and economic cooperation, the corridor presents important opportunities for Azerbaijan, the South Caucasus, and the wider region. The call seeks to encourage original scholarly research by young Azerbaijani scholars and students on the economic, political, legal, geopolitical, and strategic dimensions of the TRIPP Corridor and its implications for regional connectivity and cooperation.
About the Topic
The South Caucasus occupies a strategically important position between Europe and Asia, giving the region significant potential to serve as a major transit and logistics hub. Following the 2020 Second Karabakh War and the 2023 anti-terror measures, Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty, marking the emergence of new geopolitical realities and creating new conditions for peace, connectivity, and regional cooperation. Against this backdrop, evolving geopolitical and economic dynamics have further underscored the importance of reliable and diversified transportation routes. The TRIPP (Zangezur) Corridor represents an important element of this emerging connectivity agenda. Envisaged as a link connecting mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through Armenia and onward to Türkiye and European markets, the corridor could facilitate the movement of goods and people, stimulate trade and investment, and strengthen regional economic integration. Its development could also enhance connectivity between China and Central Asia, on the one hand, and Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Europe, on the other, reinforcing the South Caucasus’ role in broader Eurasian transportation and trade networks.
The corridor has particular significance in relation to the Middle Corridor, which connects Central Asia and the Caspian region with the South Caucasus, Türkiye, and Europe. The development of the TRIPP (Zangezur) Corridor could strengthen this broader East-West connectivity network, enhance multimodal transportation, diversify regional supply chains, and further consolidate Azerbaijan’s role as a key transit and logistics hub. Its potential interaction with North-South connectivity networks could create additional opportunities for trade and regional economic cooperation. At the same time, the corridor’s economic potential extends beyond transportation, with possible benefits for infrastructure development, logistics, manufacturing, tourism, and cross-border investment. For China and the Central Asian states, improved connectivity could facilitate greater access to regional and European markets, while Europe could benefit from more diversified transportation links with Central Asia and China. Within the broader Middle Corridor framework, the corridor could therefore contribute to more resilient supply chains, expanded regional trade, and greater economic interdependence across Eurasia.
The Washington Peace Declaration of August 8, 2025 further connected regional connectivity with the broader peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia and laid the foundation for the TRIPP framework. In this context, connectivity can be examined not only through its economic and logistical dimensions but also in relation to normalization, economic interdependence, and regional stability. The development of the corridor therefore raises important questions concerning infrastructure, investment, legal arrangements, economic feasibility, regional cooperation, and the interests of different stakeholders. Against this background, contributions may examine the TRIPP (Zangezur) Corridor as a potential driver of economic cooperation, regional integration, and sustainable development, while also considering the opportunities and challenges associated with its development and its broader implications for the South Caucasus and neighboring regions.
Suggested sub-topics
Articles may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
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The TRIPP (Zangezur) Corridor and regional economic integration: opportunities for Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia;
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The Washington Peace Declaration and TRIPP: the emerging connectivity framework and its regional implications;
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The TRIPP (Zangezur) Corridor and the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process: the role of connectivity and economic interdependence in advancing normalization and regional stability;
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Trade, logistics, and supply chains: the potential contribution of the TRIPP (Zangezur) Corridor to the Middle Corridor and North-South connectivity;
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Nakhchivan’s connectivity and economic potential: opportunities arising from improved transport links between Nakhchivan, mainland Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and wider regional markets;
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Investment and infrastructure: opportunities for infrastructure development, foreign investment, logistics hubs, and private-sector cooperation;
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Regional and international perspectives: the economic and strategic interests of the United States, the European Union, China, Türkiye, Iran, Russia, Central Asian states, and other relevant stakeholders;
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Legal and geopolitical dimensions: legal frameworks, regional interests, and geopolitical considerations surrounding the development and operation of the TRIPP (Zangezur) Corridor.
Submission Guidelines
This call is specifically aimed at encouraging the research and academic work of Azerbaijani youth.
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Eligibility: Only citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan aged 29 and under are eligible to participate.
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Submission: All submissions must be in a Microsoft Word-compatible format. Articles must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration by another publication at the time of submission. Times New Roman font, 12-point size, and single spacing are recommended for the main text. Article titles should be in 12-point bold uppercase letters; subheadings should be 12-point and in title case.
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Deadline: The deadline for submission is November 17, 2026.
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Language: All articles must be submitted in English.
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Length: Articles should be between 2,500 and 3,000 words.
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Style: Please use the Chicago Manual of Style for formatting, citations, and bibliography.
Awards and Publication
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Certificates and Honoraria: Certificates of recognition and honoraria will be awarded to the authors of the top three articles.
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Publication: The top three articles will be published on the AIR Center’s website.
Please submit your article along with a brief author biography (maximum 150 words) to the email address: sultan.zahidov@aircenter.az
We welcome your submissions and look forward to your valuable contribution to the scholarly discourse.
