ABSTRACT
In 1991 as in 1918 it was the Azerbaijani intelligentsia that moved in to administer the new state. On both occasions, this led to the same advantages and drawbacks. In 1992, Azerbaijan was faced with building or reforming communist state institutions into democratic institutions in both form and action. This was a momentous task: it included drafting and passing a new constitution; creating a new parliament to replace the Supreme Soviet; building a judiciary that was independent, and not simply a tool of the Communist Party elite; and distributing power to the various state bodies while determining the balance of power among them. The Popular Front government tried hard to build a democratic state in an inhospitable environment, but suffered greatly from its narrow elite following and lack of personnel when it came to implementing reforms. Geopolitically stuck between Turkey, Iran and Russia, the Popular Front government sought to build international relations in a very unfavourable climate.
