The Baku Research Institute (BRI): An Independent Think Tank in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is an authoritarian country, with major limitations on the exercise of basic liberties. Academia, media, think tanks, and NGOs are, for the most part, directly or indirectly under the influence and/or control of the state, which limits their independence and freedom of expression. Within this authoritarian context, the Baku Research Institute (BRI) stands out as one of the few independent organizations in the country. Through interviews with its founder and one of its members, this chapter discusses how BRI preserved its independence, withstanding repeated attempts by the Azerbaijani government to co-opt it and undermine its work. Finally, given how Azerbaijan is geopolitically positioned between the West and Russia, the chapter also discusses how BRI navigates East-West relations.