E Pluribus Unum? Ethnicity, Islam, and the Construction of Identity in Azerbaijan

In multinational states, developing a strong sense of civic nationalism among minorities is critical to creating social order. Countries that fail to cultivate civic nationalism among minorities can face persistent problems of separatism on the periphery. This article investigates the role of three factors that may explain the variable loyalty of individuals from minority groups to the state—inter-ethnic networks, in-group solidarity and religiosity. Drawing on an original survey of Lezghin and Talysh minorities in Azerbaijan, the analysis suggests that individuals with a stronger Islamic identity and more interethnic networks were more likely to identify with state-promoted civic nationalism, due to their ability to cut across ethnic identities. Against our expectations, group solidarity did not influence an individual’s degree of attachment to civic identity.