An Analysis of Cultural Heritage Preservation Efforts in Karabakh from the Perspective of Public Relations

Abstract

This study discusses the activities of Azerbaijan to protect the intangible cultural heritage after the Karabakh War. This study also aims to analyze the strategic communication activities carried out to protect the elements of folk architecture. This study is critical because it is the first study to deal with the post-war communication strategy of Azerbaijan. In this study, semi-structured interviews have been conducted with civil servants in the field in order to determine the communication strategy of Azerbaijan, and the data have been analyzed in the Maxqda program. The findings are as follows: The first stage of strategic communication management in Azerbaijan is to analyze the situation by identifying the works that make up the folk architecture. Then, in the planning phase, the damage assessment steps have been determined. Later, institutions and funds were established for the restoration process, and planning and managing of the restoration process were initiated. In the third and fourth steps of strategic communication management, as communication and action strategies. Various communication methods such as lobbying activities, fight against infodemic and public advertisement have been used.