Cultural and Educational Cooperation Between Turkey and Azerbaijan

Culture and education hold a special place in the relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey. Both countries base an important aspect of their foreign policy on mutual friendship and strive to create a sphere of power against Armenia in the Caucasus. In this endeavor, the area theorized with the concept of “soft power” holds significant importance in bilateral relations. In this context the relations in the fields of culture and education are functionalized both in terms of maintaining public support in both countries for Turkey-Azerbaijan relations and in creating mutual spheres of influence. This also prevents the spread of independent and peaceful ideas apart from hostile official and nationalist theses in the context of the problems both countries have with Armenians and relations with Armenia.

Both countries, in their official discourse and policies, highlight the historicity and eternity of Turkish-Azerbaijani friendship by emphasizing the common language, common history, and common culture. In the field of education, relationships established between institutions, student and academic exchanges, and the emphasis on positive ties between the two countries and peoples in textbooks ensure the indoctrination of the younger generations. While these efforts highlight the commonalities between the two peoples, they also reinforce the desired unity by consistently portraying the Armenian people, who contribute to the cultural heritage of the region, as a common enemy. This is a striking example of the ideological and exclusionary use of culture and education. These two countries, which strive to be among civilized societies by cooperating in the fields of culture and education, adopt a denialist and destructive policy when it comes to Armenian cultural and historical heritage. Turkey systematically adopts a destructive approach towards Armenian cultural and historical heritage within its borders, and Azerbaijan does the same towards Armenian cemeteries, churches, and all kinds of Armenian values in Nakhchivan and Karabakh.

The cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey in the fields of culture and education spans a wide range of areas, from art to sports, folklore to media, academic collaboration to tourism. After restoring independence and re-establishing diplomatic relations with Turkey, Azerbaijan started to lay ground of cultural and educational ties with Turkey. To this end, various bilateral agreements have been signed to create the legal and diplomatic framework for this cooperation. Among the agreements related to the field of culture, we can mention the following:

• Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism (1992)

• Cooperation Protocol in the Field of Culture and Art (1994)

• Cultural Cooperation Protocol (2004)

• Agreement on the Establishment, Working Mechanism and Activities of the Cultural Centers (2018)
• Cultural Cooperation Agreement (2023)

Turkish-Azerbaijani cooperation in the cultural field is reflecting historical, linguistic, and cultural ties between the two nations. Both Turkey and Azerbaijan speak Turkic languages, which facilitates cultural exchange. The official discourses of the two countries aim to garner the consent of the two peoples through propaganda that emphasizes ethnic ties, linguistic similarities, and a common religion, under the slogan “Two states, one nation.” According to this discourse, the Turkish and Azerbaijani peoples, among the Turkic peoples, possessed a rich cultural heritage; and it was possible to see many similarities and common values in the spiritual and cultural creativity of these peoples. It is claimed that the languages, religions, customs and traditions, psychology, and behavioral norms of two people resemble each other, and it is argued that this has had a strong impact on their material and spiritual cultures, their mutual interaction, mutual enrichment, and development throughout history. In the background of all this discourse, there is a constant emphasis on the need to act together against Armenians and Armenia, who are presented as a common adversary for both countries.

The cooperation in the field of culture spans a wide range of activities. For example, both countries offer scholarships and exchange programs for students and researchers. Turkish universities often have Azerbaijani cultural centers, and vice versa. There are numerous joint literary events, such as book fairs, poetry sessions, and literature festivals that highlight Turkish and Azerbaijani works. Both countries participate in each other’s music and cultural festivals. Notable events include the International Turkic Culture and Arts Festivals. Joint performances by musicians, dancers, and theater groups are common. Turkish artists who produce works in modern Turkish pop music and other fields have a large fan base in Azerbaijan, and these artists frequently go to this country to give concerts. Concerts featuring traditional Azerbaijani mugham and Turkish classical music are also popular. 

Turkish and Azerbaijani media companies often collaborate on producing television series, films, and documentaries. There are television and radio programs dedicated to showcasing the cultural heritage, music, and artists from both countries. Joint film productions often depict stories that resonate with audiences in both countries. These films are shown at international film festivals, promoting Turkish and Azerbaijani culture worldwide. Film festivals in both countries often feature a special focus on films from the other country, encouraging cultural exchange and mutual appreciation of cinematic arts. 

Free movement of capital between Turkey and Azerbaijan and economic cooperation ensure that firms investing in media and cinema sectors are active in both countries. This also facilitates the ideological orientation of the local population. Television channels, internet sites, publishing houses, and film production companies are active in this area, and large Turkish and Azerbaijani companies, through their roles as advertisers, are able to control the media. Television series and films contribute to deepening the anti-Armenian atmosphere by spreading the ideas that the peoples of Turkey and Azerbaijan are brothers, their interests are common, and that both countries are surrounded by enemies, with Armenians being the foremost among these adversaries.

Collaborative efforts to preserve and promote historical sites and museums enhance the understanding of Turkish and Azerbaijani shared cultural history. Exhibitions featuring artifacts from both countries are sometimes organized to highlight these connections. Both countries actively promote their cultural heritage sites to tourists from the other nation. This includes organized tours, cultural itineraries, and promotional campaigns. Joint efforts to preserve and promote cultural heritage, such as UNESCO World Heritage sites, contribute to the cultural tourism sector in both countries. Both countries collaborate on projects aimed at preserving their shared cultural heritage. This includes restoration projects of historical sites and monuments significant to both Turkish and Azerbaijani history. Joint museum exhibitions and cultural displays are organized to highlight the shared cultural history; these exhibitions often travel between the two countries. It is noteworthy that the attitude of the two countries, which try to project an image of respecting historical heritage as a basis for culture and tourism, is to deny and destroy the Armenian cultural heritage within their borders. All calls made from Armenia and the Armenian diaspora to end these systematic denialist and aggressive policies have been futile, and ultimately, the Armenian cultural heritage in both countries has suffered significant losses.

Numerous non-governmental organizations in both Turkey and Azerbaijan work on cultural projects, fostering partnerships and community engagements. Programs and initiatives aimed at young people include youth exchanges, cultural workshops, and joint summer camps. In addition to scholarships, there are numerous student exchange programs that allow Turkish and Azerbaijani students to study in each other’s countries, promoting cultural immersion and academic collaboration. The importance given to students and youth aims to instill in the new generations the idea that the future of the two countries, as well as their past, is shared. Young generations educated within a program defined ideologically by both states are thus growing up with negative views about Armenians and Armenia, becoming future opponents of Armenians. In this regard, education and culture in Turkey and Azerbaijan do not promote free thinking and inquiry but rather embody characteristics shaped by discrimination, hostility, and nationalism.

There are initiatives to preserve and promote traditional crafts, such as carpet weaving, pottery, and textile arts. Traditional markets and fairs often feature stalls and displays from both countries, showcasing their heritage in handicrafts, and other traditional arts. Joint exhibitions and workshops help artisans from both countries share their skills and heritage. In this context, the systematic and ongoing practice of “Turkifying” and “Azerifying” Armenian cultural heritage in both countries is evident. A doctrine that denies any connection of historical artifacts, art, or crafts with Armenians, and defines them entirely as part of Turkish and Azerbaijani tradition, has been influential across generations.  

“Twin city” institutions are noteworthy to mention in promoting mutual cultural ties. Currently, “twin city” relations set up between different regions of the two states are reach nearly a hundred cities. Culture Days are respectively held in both countries, works of well-known artists of both countries are taught in higher education institutions, regularly presented to the public. Sports events, especially those that have cultural significance such as wrestling and horse-riding competitions, are regularly organized. Athletes from Turkey and Azerbaijan frequently participate in each other’s sports tournaments and cultural games, showcasing their traditional sports.

After the independence in 1991, many Azerbaijani artists went to Turkey and started living in this country. These artists, who were educated in fields such as painting, sculpture, and plastic arts during the Soviet era, worked in various parts of Turkey, trained students, and produced works. Today, numerous cultural monuments in different parts of Turkey have been designed and crafted by prominent Azerbaijani artists or their students. Many Azerbaijani professors working in Turkish universities have played an important role in the establishment or development of different faculties of culture in the relevant universities.

There are initiatives to translate and publish literary works from Turkish to Azerbaijani and vice versa, promoting mutual literary appreciation. Turkish and Azerbaijani musicians frequently collaborate, participating in joint concerts and music festivals. Theatrical and dance troupes from Turkey and Azerbaijan perform in each other’s countries, showcasing traditional and contemporary performances. Television channels in both countries broadcast programs that promote cultural understanding, including documentaries, drama series, and cultural shows that highlight the cultural heritage and contemporary life of each country. Exhibitions of traditional crafts and folk art from Turkey and Azerbaijan are held regularly. Workshops and training programs are organized to keep these traditional skills alive and promote them among younger generations.

In summary, the field of culture not only represents a partnership between the two countries but also corresponds to a reality where a negative discourse and actions against the “other” are organized, excluding a neighboring people –Armenians– while emphasizing a common identity and history. In other words, under the claim of unification, it is actually divisive. The imagined claim of lineage and ethnic unity obscures reality, and the cultural field becomes a tool of nationalist politics that ignores the existence of the ancient Armenian people who have shared the same geography with Turks and Azerbaijan for hundreds of years.

The friendship between Azerbaijan and Turkey has also facilitated the expansion of cooperation in the field of education. The contacts that began with Azerbaijan’s independence in 1991, particularly after the year 2000, have ensured the growth and development of Azerbaijan-Turkey educational relations. Turkey and Azerbaijan have signed numerous intergovernmental agreements to facilitate educational cooperation. These agreements often cover student exchange programs, scholarships, and the mutual recognition of diplomas and academic degrees. In the last 30 years, the agreements signed to achieve multilateral cooperation in the field of education between the two countries include the following:

• Cooperation Protocol in the Field of Culture and Art (1994)
• Letter of Intent signed between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, National Education, and State of the Republic of Turkey (1992)
• Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement in the Fields of Science, Technology, Social Affairs, Culture, and Economics (1994)
• Memorandum of Understanding on Higher Education Cooperation (1995, 1997, 2017)
• Protocol on Cooperation in the Fields of Education and Science (1997, 2000)
• Protocol on Cooperation in the Field of Vocational Education (2021)

In the field of education, just like in culture, there is a general emphasis on the shared destiny of the two peoples, and a significant part of this is the othering of the Armenian people and neighboring Armenia. Thus, from primary school to university and postgraduate education, anti-Armenian propaganda is disseminated at all levels of education, promoting the idea that Armenians are a threat to Turks and Azerbaijanis and have acted with ill intentions throughout history. From textbooks to media, from cinema to television series and documentaries, the official discourse is designed to instill anti-Armenian sentiments in the minds of the younger generations from an early age.

The cooperation of Turkey and Azerbaijan in the field of education is characterized by a range of initiatives, agreements, and collaborations aimed at enhancing educational standards, promoting cultural exchange, and fostering academic partnerships. Universities in both countries collaborate on joint research projects, academic exchanges, and conferences. Notable agreements exist between leading institutions such as Baku State University and Turkish universities like Ankara University and Istanbul University. As a result of the activities of the Joint Commission established according to the agreement signed in 2000 significant progress has been made in the recognition of the specializations of Azerbaijani higher education institutions in Turkey.

There are several student exchange programs that allow Azerbaijani students to study in Turkey and vice versa. These programs are often supported by government scholarships. As part of the European Union’s Erasmus+ program, Turkish and Azerbaijani universities participate in student and staff exchange initiatives, fostering intercultural dialogue and academic cooperation. The Turkish government offers the “Turkey Scholarships” program, which provides Azerbaijani students with opportunities to pursue undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral studies in Turkey. These scholarships cover tuition fees, accommodation, and living expenses. The Azerbaijani government also offers scholarships for Turkish students to study in Azerbaijan, promoting educational exchange and cultural ties.

Several Turkish educational institutions operate in Azerbaijan, including high schools and vocational schools. These schools follow the Turkish curriculum and provide education in Turkish, fostering strong cultural and educational links between the two nations. Founded with the support of both Turkish and Azerbaijani educational bodies, Caucasus University in Azerbaijan is a notable example of joint educational ventures, offering programs in various fields with a focus on regional cooperation. The Yunus Emre Institute, a Turkish cultural organization, operates in Azerbaijan, offering Turkish language courses and promoting Turkish culture. This helps Azerbaijani students and professionals learn Turkish. Similarly, Turkish universities offer programs and courses in the Azerbaijani language, promoting cultural exchange and providing Turkish students with insights into Azerbaijani culture and language.

Universities from both countries collaborate on research projects in various fields such as engineering, social sciences, and humanities. These projects often receive support from both governments and international organizations. Regular academic conferences and symposiums are held, bringing together scholars, researchers, and students from Turkey and Azerbaijan. There are collaborative research projects in areas such as Turkology, history, and literature. Researchers and historians from both nations work together to explore their shared history, including joint archaeological expeditions. This research often sheds light on the historical connections and common heritage of the Turkish and Azerbaijani peoples. Many of these efforts aim to produce material in line with the official theses of the two countries, rather than generating internationally valid knowledge. This has led to the production of biased articles and books, as well as the creation of documentaries, particularly concerning relations with Armenians and Armenia and the Karabakh issue.

Currently, more than 24,000 citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan are pursuing various levels of higher education (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, medical specialization, etc.) in the Republic of Turkey. This figure indicates a significant impact when considering the Turkish students studying in Azerbaijan as well. With a protocol signed in 2021, it was decided to expand cooperation in the field of vocational education between the two countries, to establish two new vocational education institutions in Azerbaijan based on the experience of the Republic of Turkey, and to learn from Turkey’s experience in this area. 

The cooperation achieved through education in both countries aims to indoctrinate current and future generations with a specific ideological education. The goal is to create people who do not question the boundaries set by the two states, accept them as they are, and reproduce this knowledge. This approach in education does not comply with international standards, either pedagogically or academically. The inclusion of an anti-Armenian perspective that views Armenia as an enemy aligns with the official ideologies of the current Turkish and Azerbaijani states but is definitely not peaceful or constructive. As a result of these efforts, the public in both countries sees each other as brotherly peoples and countries. Naturally, Armenia and Armenians are seen as malevolent adversaries. However, upon closer inspection and deeper investigation, it becomes evident that the knowledge and understanding the peoples of the two countries have about each other are not as profound as officially claimed. Despite all the efforts, the cultural cooperation created is extremely shallow. In this light, it becomes clearer that culture and education are used as tools for the political, diplomatic, and military interests of the two countries. The millions of dollars spent in this effort serve not the good and peaceful, but the bad and hostile. The fact that Turkey and Azerbaijan rank very low on all international development indices, democratic criteria, and human rights demonstrates that the excessively nationalist and racist policies pursued so far have actually done the greatest harm to these two peoples.