Building Smart Cities in Azerbaijan: Hard to Conceptualise, Difficult to Build

Abstract

This article opens a general discussion about the concept of the 'smart city' and how it can be understood in the context of urban affairs. Furthermore, it discusses the problems of conceptualisation and operationalisation of smart city projects in Azerbaijan and elsewhere, and the ways in which they can lead to project failure. The article also addresses the problems of implementation of the smart city concept in the country and discusses how to adapt general visions and global aspirations for smart and sustainable cities to the Azerbaijani context. Furthermore, the author suggests which metrics and policy domains the authorities should consider when translating the smart city visions into policy. He discusses the preconditions for success, and whether Azerbaijan has the necessary infrastructure and specialists for its implementation.