Yale University professor Firuz Kazemzadeh’s “Struggle for Transcaucasus 1917-1927” presented in Baku

The book “Struggle for Transcaucasus 1917-1927” written by professor emeritus of history at Yale University Firuz Kazemzadeh was presented at the Center of Strategic Studies under the President of Azerbaijan.

The book was published for the fist time in 1951 and now was re-published by the Center of Strategic Studies. It was dedicated to the historic events in the South Caucasus occurred during the restoration of independence of Azerbaijan in 1918.

Director of the Caucasian Institute of Strategic Studies Eldar Ismayilov spoke about the actuality and importance of this scientific work in Caucasian studies. Introduction of the book was written by Professor of John Hopkins University Frederic Starr, who considers himself as the Kazemzadeh’s follower.

“I wrote this book 60 years ago and I never thought that it would create such effect in Azerbaijan. I am very happy that the book was translated into Russian and it is still topical”.

Professor of Baku State University, MP Musa Gasimli said this research work described socio-political processes in Azerbaijan early 1920s, dashnaks’ activity against the Turks, Armenian-Georgian relations. “The author can use the documents, which became available for the researchers only after the USSR collapse. Detailed historic materials were used in the book and it makes the young generation to think”.

Firuz Kazemzadeh was born in 1924 in Moscow, where his father served in the embassy of Iran. After completing his primary and secondary education in Moscow, he moved to the USA in 1944 and entered Stanford University, graduating with distinction (Phi Beta Kappa) in 1946 and obtaining an MA in 1947. In 1950 Kazemzadeh received a Ph.D. in Russian history from Harvard University. Kazemzadeh taught at Harvard in 1954-1956, then moved to Yale where he was professor of history until his retirement as professor emeritus in 1992. He is the author and co-author of a number of books on the history of Russia and Iran, as well as numerous articles and reviews for authoritative scholarly publications. Between May 15, 1998 and May 14, 2003, Kazemzadeh served as a Commissioner on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom


/APA/