As Armenia heads towards its parliamentary elections on 7 June, attention is turning to the South Caucasus peace process and its future direction. Analysts say the vote could influence the region’s shift from post-conflict agreements towards longer-term cooperation and integration.
While a range of bilateral and multilateral frameworks has developed in recent years, the durability of peace is still seen as dependent on whether cooperation extends beyond diplomatic declarations into sustained economic and societal links.
Speaking to AnewZ, political scientist Farhad Huseynov described the current stage as both “a challenge and opportunity” for Azerbaijan, as efforts continue to shape what he termed a lasting peace that goes beyond the mere absence of conflict.
He distinguished between “negative peace” - defined as the absence of active conflict - and “positive peace”, which he said requires deeper structural transformation.
According to Huseynov, economic interdependence is already contributing to this process. Expanding transit routes, trade flows and infrastructure projects, he argued, are creating a “living reality” of regional connectivity that supports the development of positive peace.
However, the analyst stressed that economic factors alone are not sufficient, noting that long-term sustainability also depends on rebuilding social and institutional ties.
“Social ties were severed and now we’re trying to rebuild them,” he said, underlining the need to restore everyday human and institutional connections.
Placing the South Caucasus in a broader historical context, Huseynov pointed to the European Union as an example of post-war integration, noting that it was created “to help Europeans live together after the devastating Second World War.”
Similar logic, he suggested, could be relevant for regional cooperation in the South Caucasus, provided political will exists among local actors.
At the institutional level, the analyst argued that existing bilateral mechanisms and negotiation formats are largely sufficient, as long as they remain focused on their core purpose of facilitating cooperation.
Looking ahead, Huseynov outlined a broader vision of an “integrated South Caucasus,” potentially evolving into a more interconnected regional model over time.
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