The Influence of Cultural and Educational Institutions on the Formation of Public Thought in Early 20th-Century Azerbaijan

Abstract

This study explores the crucial role of cultural and educational institutions in the formation and evolution of public thought in Azerbaijan during the early decades of the twentieth century. It argues that, within the framework of the colonial policies of Tsarist Russia, the expansion of national education emerged as a vital means of safeguarding Azerbaijani national identity, language, and cultural heritage. The educational and intellectual efforts of leading figures such as Hasan bey Zardabi, Ali bey Huseynzade, Ahmad bey Agayev, Omar Faiq Nemanzade, and Muhammad Amin Rasulzade played a decisive role in raising public awareness and promoting ideas of national advancement.

The article further analyzes the impact of periodicals including Açıq Söz (Open Word), Füyuzat, and Dirilik, alongside educational societies such as Nicat, Səadət, and Nəşri-Maarif, as well as newly established modern schools, on the process of national awakening. It concludes that, in the early twentieth century, cultural and educational institutions functioned not only as centers of learning but also as key platforms for the articulation of national ideology and the development of public consciousness. This intellectual and educational movement ultimately created the ideological foundation for the proclamation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.