Published Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
July 27, 2026
In the article, he explore how Azerbaijan’s ambition to become a key transit and energy hub—through initiatives such as the Middle Corridor and the Zangezur Corridor (TRIPP)—is shaped by the country’s domestic political economy. The analysis examines who benefits from these connectivity projects, how they are governed, and what they reveal about the relationship between economic integration, state capacity, and institutional accountability.
“Azerbaijan has successfully positioned itself as a strategic transit country at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. However, its long-term competitiveness will depend less on geography than on the quality of its institutions.”
Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu was arrested and detained in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2023. He remains under house arrest. To read more, visit freegubad.com
Despite his circumstances, Dr. Ibadoghlu continues to write from his home in Azerbaijan. Click below for more of his recent work:
Ibadoghlu, G. (2026). Energy, Power, and Repression: Political Economy Insights from Azerbaijan. Washington D.C.:Crude Accountability. https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-109345-1
Ibadoghlu, Gubad (2026) : Azerbaijan’s Post-Oil Economy and the Middle-Income Trap: A Comparative Analysis, SSRN, Rochester, New York, https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6661518
Ibadoghlu, Gubad (2026) : Europe’s Energy Interests and the Authoritarian Trade-Off, ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, Kiel, Hamburg. https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/337500/1/Europes-Energy-Interests-and-the-Authoritarian-Trade-Off.pdf
Ibadoghlu, Gubad and Askerov, Ali, The Political Economy of Azerbaijan-Russia Relations: Intersecting and Overlapping Interests (December 27, 2025). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5973655 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5973655
Ibadoghlu, Gubad (2026) : The EU’s Phase-Out of Russian Gas: Progress, Risks, and Security Implications, SSRN, Rochester, NY, https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6337479, https://ssrn.com/abstract=6337479