Ali Bey Huseynzade's idea of Turkic unity and language in the process of creating national identity in Azerbaijan

Abstract

This paper investigates the contributions of Azerbaijani intellectual thinker Ali bey Huseynzade in the formation process of national self-awareness of Muslim Turks living under the rule of the Russian Empire. The article aims to find out his role in Turkic unity, common language and national identity process through the historical approach method. Article represents that while there are have been many studies investigating his role on turkic unity, and common language his ideas criticized by some researchers during his time and modern times. Although the idea of emphasizing the issue of national identity versus religious identity was welcomed by the intellectuals of the time, there were different approaches towards the common Turkic language reform and Turkic unity..