u/Own-Base-7511

Azerbaijan has been ruled by Aliyevs since 1969/1993. While the Aliyev government managed to avoid antagonizing its neighbors (unlike Georgia or Armenia), restored territorial integrity, led an oil boom in the 2000s and early 2010s, increased Azerbaijan's prestige by hosting F1, COP29 and WUF, and created a somewhat stable society,

it still is marred by authoritarianism, low economic growth, crony capitalism and a general lack of opportunities.

Azerbaijan had two opposition generations: the "old guard" (AXC/Müsavat/AMİP) formed from the old Cəbhə government of 1992-93 which largely failed to challenge Aliyevs, and the "new generation" of ReAl and various NGOs that tried to change Azerbaijani society and culture first before creating a democratic society. They failed and were coopted by the government as well.

The opposition, despite its criticism of Aliyevs, is itself undemocratic, as AXC and Musavat don't have democratic leadership elections or proper discussions. Not only that, there isn't an opposition group in Azerbaijan that has either 1. meaningfully different platform from YAP other than "Aliyev bad" or 2. a functioning ideology and understanding of how to run a state.

With the opposition being crushed, divided, and incompetent, is there even an alternative to the rule of Aliyevs? It seems that all possible alternatives are just worse than the regime, either by incompetency or by radicalism (Islamists/pan-Turkists).