Sustainable Development and Regional Planning Strategies (A Case Study of Azerbaijan’s Liberated Territories)

Abstract

This thesis analyses how effectively the reconstruction initiatives of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories align with contemporary regional planning methods and global Sustainable Development Goals. The Azerbaijani government initiated an extensive reconstruction program in the aftermath of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, alongside the objective of relocating the displaced population, reconstructing infrastructure, and adopting “smart” and “green” development methods across regions such as Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Shusha. The present research examines the alignment between national recovery goals and global sustainability standards. Post-conflict adaptability, stakeholder involvement, spatial planning, inclusion of renewable energy, and sustainability in the environment constitute significant focuses for the study. Although the findings demonstrate major improvements, especially in the fields of energy transitions and infrastructure, they also point to shortcomings in community involvement, monitoring, evaluation, and alignment with SDG indicators. In order to place Azerbaijan’s progress and difficulties in perspective, comparative analysis and insights from different post-conflict regions are utilized. The research study contributes to a more extensive discussion of sustainable post-conflict recovery and makes policy recommendations for promoting inclusivity and robust regional planning in unstable environments.