ABSTRACT
The Azerbaijani legislative election of 2005 was the theatre for Azerbaijani opposition activists to try and stage a non-violent revolution. This attempt came after a series of successful, non-violent ‘electoral revolutions’ in neighbouring countries, was repressed by the Azerbaijani authorities, and further marginalized the opposition of this Caspian, oil-rich country. This article will try to address the reasons why the colour revolution model failed to adapt to Azerbaijani realities, and will argue that the inspiration of the revolution-attempt was not nourished from local conditions but were by-and-large inspired by events outside the Azerbaijani society. The study of the attempt and failure of a colour revolution in Azerbaijan is instructive to understand the other cases of non-violent revolutions, and the necessary conditions to bring down a dictatorship through the mobilization of peaceful citizens.
