International election observers in post-Soviet Azerbaijan

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Azerbaijan’s parliamentary elections in November 2005 became a battleground for domestic and international influences. This book examines the critical role of international observers and provides thorough assessments of the election's pre- and post-election contexts. The elections are particularly noteworthy due to Azerbaijan's oil wealth, which offers insights into the interplay between energy resources and democratization. They garnered significant international attention, serving as a litmus test for the potential spread of regime change seen in Georgia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan. Notably, a substantial number of Russian observers participated in the Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights (ODIHR) mission, marking a first in such contexts. Additionally, the case of Azerbaijan sheds light on the methodological and technical aspects of election observation, including the controversial use of exit polls. The book features contributions from various experts, including Leila Alieva on the international observation mission, Ulvi Amirbekov on the institutional framework, Zafar Guliev on the gap between democratic expectations and imitation, Zardusht Alizade on the elections reflecting Azeri politics and society, Rustam Seyidov on the post-election landscape, and Torgrul Juvarly and Ali Abasov on the economic implications of the elections.