The Smart Village Concept and Its Applicability in the Karabakh Region: Can It Succeed?

Abstract

The end of the Karabakh conflict brought new problems for the Azerbaijani government, the most important of which being the reconstruction and development of de-occupied territories. With thousands of hectares of agricultural lands undeveloped and abandoned for 30 years, the Azerbaijani government has adopted a 'smart village' approach. The political establishment hopes that the implementation of this concept in these territories will boost redevelopment as well as lead to a return of population. The following article discusses the possibilities of implementing 'smart village' concepts in the Karabakh region, and offers suggestions based on the past experience of various countries.