THE CONSEQUENCES OF FORCED DEPORTATIONS: AN ARCHIVAL ANALYSIS OF THE AZERBAIJANI POPULATION’S DISPLACEMENT FROM THE ARMENIAN SSR (1948–1955, 1988–1991)

Abstract

This study explores the psychological and socio-cultural consequences of the forced deportation of Azerbaijanis from Western Azerbaijan (the Armenian SSR) during two major waves of displacement: 1948–1955 and 1988–1991. Drawing on archival documents, state records, and memoirs, the article employs a historical-psychological framework to analyze the traumatic effects of mass uprooting.The first wave (1948–1955), carried out under Joseph Stalin and framed as “resettlement,” dislocated entire families, disrupted communal structures, and produced long-term consequences such as identity fragmentation, cultural discontinuity, and enforced adaptation to unfamiliar settings (Aliyev, 1998; Aliyev, 2004). The second wave (1988–1991), coinciding with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, was characterized by organized violence, intimidation, and ethnic cleansing, leading to acute collective trauma marked by fear, marginalization, and mass casualties (Atabaki, 2004).Findings highlight the intergenerational transmission of trauma, erosion of collective memory, and weakening of psychological security among displaced Azerbaijanis. By integrating archival evidence with trauma studies, this article demonstrates how political decisions and ethnic hostilities become embedded in the psychosocial fabric of affected populations (Amrakhov, 2022; Najafov, 2025).The study contributes to applied psychology, migration studies, and conflict research by illustrating the methodological significance of archival-document analysis for examining historical trauma, forced migration, and the psychosocial consequences of ethnic violence (Najafov, 2025). Implications extend to post-conflict reconciliation and the reconstruction of displaced communities Amrahov, 2025.