For Westerners, the modern state of Azerbaijan may be hard to pinpoint as this small, oil-rich country only made its way on to the contemporary world map after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The historically tolerant and pluralist Azeri people have an ancient history and a rich culture where Azerbaijan lay on the route of the Great Silk Road, the trade network that connected China with Europe. It was also situated in the heart of the Great Game and Azerbaijan has been called “the quintessential borderland, many times over: between Europe and Asia, Islam and Christianity, Russia and the Middle East, Turks and Iranians, Shi’a and Sunni Islam.” Azerbaijan was briefly independent after the First World War, when it was the first Muslim state to adopt progressive Western values.  In addition, areas of Azerbaijan were occupied by neighboring Armenia and the country has absorbed a huge number of refugees after a bitter war in 1991–94. Meanwhile, the economy of the country is growing as it experiences a new oil boom and there is a growing sense of national identity among the people which is known as Culture Smart. This book provides the readers with vital information and advice about the customs, practices, and sensibilities of a society poised on the brink of change.