Urban Planning in Baku: Who is Involved and How It Works

Baku, the capital of the Azerbaijan Republic, was one of the major industrial cities in the Soviet Union. In contrast, the post-Soviet development of Baku has witnessed a major reconstruction with grandiose construction projects, which is meant to turn the city into a global city. Consequently, the urban landscape has been transformed in many parts of the city, while informal settlements and a deteriorating environment have become the main scourges of Baku. However, while the administration has attempted to follow the model of Dubai, in practice, the urban development is characteristically chaotic due to the absence of effective regulation and planning. Indeed, with the continued influx of oil revenue, the city is spending vast sums on new projects, buildings and infrastructure without any apparent strategic plan. This paper identifies the key forces and processes underlying the transformation of Baku and looks at the problems haunting the city.► We looked at urban development of Baku in historical perspectives. ► We examined urban transformation of Baku since collapse of the Soviet Union. ► Absence of Master Plan and zoning make the urban construction chaotic and costly. ► Urban elites are prone for Dubai model of development. ► Dubai model proved to be wrong approach since Baku misses several important factors such as geography and resources.

Grassroots initiatives have become primary setters of the discourse on facilitating participation of city dwellers in the urban development of Baku. Activities of these initiatives range from social-media based activism to small-scale interventions into public spaces. This contribution explores the strengths, promises and challenges of such initiatives in centralized governance systems such as Azerbaijan, primarily using the example of the “Urban Olum” project of urbanist civic initiative “PILLƏ”. The analysis can serve as a backdrop for the premises of urban activism in the context of Baku.

Gentrification is being increasingly discussed as a driver of urban change globally, including in the former Soviet Union. However, the translation of the gentrification phenomenon into post-Soviet cities like Baku remains poorly understood. This article explores how a particular form of state-led "gentrification by demolition" is unfolding in Baku. We assert the ongoing relevance of using the framework of gentrification to analyze the processes. We go on to use the case of the recently demolished Sovetsky district to carefully expand the geography of the gentrification discourse. We argue that Baku's own "landscape of gentrification" is shaped by anumber of preconditions. It bears the marks of the legacy of post-socialist cities. However, it more resembles muscular state-led "gentrification by demolition" that is characteristic of Chinese cities. It also echoes Soviet citybuilding legacies in its use of spectacle and "grand gesture" to legitimize and buy support for gentrification policies.

Baku State University Journal of Earth Sciences & Environment, 2024

The article examines the modern socio-demographic structure of the city of Baku and provides a description of the ongoing demographic processes under the influence of various economic and geographical factors. In the development plan of the Baku urban agglomeration, a detailed structural description of individual administrative districts of the city of Baku is given and overpopulated areas and the level of uneven distribution of the population in the city are identified. As a result of the study, measures are proposed to optimize the urban environment in the context of modern urbani-zation processes.

Urban Geography, 2019

Gentrification is being increasingly discussed as a driver of urban change globally, including in the former Soviet Union. However, the translation of the gentrification phenomenon into post- Soviet cities like Baku remains poorly understood. This article explores how a particular form of state-led “gentrification by demolition” is unfolding in Baku. We assert the ongoing relevance of using the framework of gentrification to analyze the processes. We go on to use the case of the recently demolished Sovetsky district to carefully expand the geography of the gentrification discourse. We argue that Baku’s own “landscape of gentrification” is shaped by anumber of preconditions. It bears the marks of the legacy of post-socialist cities. However, it more resembles muscular state-led “gentrification by demolition” that is characteristic of Chinese cities. It also echoes Soviet citybuilding legacies in its use of spectacle and “grand gesture” to legitimize and buy support for gentrification policies.

RUSAD, 2024

In recent times, the identities of cities have been a topic of debate. The distinct features of the places we inhabit help define, differentiate, and shape their identities. In a globalizing world, unique traits that leave lasting impressions and contribute to collective memory play a vital role in defining cities. Elements like language, history, culture, architecture, religion, and gastronomy shape urban identity in specific proportions for each city. These characteristics also strengthen the bond between cities and their communities. Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, stands out with its unique identity. Shaped by its geographical location, natural resources, architecture, language, religion, and social structure, Baku’s identity has been passed down through generations. However, its identity has also transformed over time due to occupations and changes in administration. The most notable influence came from the Russians. In the early 19th century, the Russian Empire seized control of Baku and took swift steps to consolidate its power. Under Russian rule, Western European architectural and cultural influences appeared in the city, alongside significant social and economic changes. Baku’s transformation continued during the Soviet era. The USSR, as an ideological state, sought to create socialist spaces to unify society. During this time, Baku became a representation of socialist ideology, with its architecture, language, and culture reshaped under Soviet influence. Over successive periods, Baku’s urban identity increasingly reflected Russian influence, altering its language, architecture, religion, and culture. This study will first discuss the concepts of identity and urban identity, focusing on the dynamics shaping Baku’s character. It will then examine the Russian occupation to establish a historical framework. Lastly, it will explore the Russian influence on Baku’s urban identity, using specific examples.

This paper aims to understand the relationship between the political reconstruction of society and transformation of city via investigating the changes of concepts such as public and private spaces after the transition from a planned socialist economy to a free market economy in Baku city, Azerbaijan.

For years the scholars of urban studies ignored the issue of existence of growth machines in post- Communist cities. Nevertheless, this phenomenon has existed in post-Communist space, especially in the former Soviet region. Although there are local geographical peculiarities, there are also striking similarities between growth politics in post-Soviet, European and US cities. Baku is interesting case from this perspective as the city has developed in a different way than those elsewhere in the region. While market forces do not play an important role in urban development there, government-led urban elites—the growth machine—define the political economy of the city and future development.