PROPAGANDA OF HATRED AND HOSTILITY IN THE AZERBAIJANI MEDIA AND ON SOCIAL NETWORKS DURING THE 2020 WAR

Abstract

Xenophobia in the modern world is one of the challenges threatening humanity, which in any form prevents any possibility of cooperation. It is all the more dangerous when xenophobia and hate speech rise to the fore in public policy and cast doubt on the peaceful coexistence of peoples in the short and long term.

The manifestations of xenophobia and Armenophobia on the part of Azerbaijan deserve special attention, which we also witnessed during the 44-day war in 2020. The purpose of this article is to identify the spread of xenophobia by Azerbaijan during the 2020 war in the Azerbaijani media and social networks.

The research conducted in the article shows that during the period we are interested in, Azerbaijani media and social networks were flooded with statements and publications containing hatred of Armenians.

As a result of the conducted research, it can be argued that hatred in Azerbaijan is so systemic that it has turned into a closed chain, starting from the authorities and ending with cultural figures, each time receiving public approval. The available facts indicate that as a result of the policy of Armenophobia, public praise of ethnic torture and inhumane treatment of Armenians has become widespread in Azerbaijani society. Summing up, we can state that anti-Armenians served as the ideological basis for war crimes and attempts at ethnic cleansing during the 44-day war.