Behind the curtain of „Zeitenwende“․ An Alternative Perspective on the German War Posture in the southern Caucasus

Abstract

  The article presents an alternative to the widespread opinion to blame only Russia for the current war in Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's presentation of the concept of the "turning point" is criticized as a facade and attention is drawn to Armenia and its situation. In reality, the term "turning point" serves, among other things, as an instrument for pursuing Eastern expansionist policies.

The study is based on the analysis of publications on the war over Karabakh in 2020 and the invasion of Armenia by Azerbaijan in 2022. Methodologically, the study of Levon Abrahamyan (2005) was also used. In addition, political and cultural relations between Germany and Azerbaijan in recent decades were analyzed.

Looking at the interactions between Germany and Azerbaijan in the political and scientific spheres, it turns out that Germany uses them as an instrument to assert its own claims in the South Caucasus. However, to the extent that it wants to enforce them, to the extent it is itself manipulated by Azerbaijan. This is described in the political sphere (the so-called German-Azerbaijani connection), in the scientific sphere (the Aliyev-funded chair of Azerbaijani history at the Humboldt University in Berlin) and in the cultural sphere (the trophy park in Baku).