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Azerbaijan The Spirit of Revolution
The growth of industry and political influences from outside
prompted the formation of radical and reformist political
organizations at the turn of the century. A leftist party calling
itself Himmat (Equality), composed mainly of Azerbaijani
intellectuals, was formed in 1903-4 to champion Azerbaijani
culture and language against Russian and other foreign
influences. A small Social Democratic Party (which later split
into Bolshevik and Menshevik factions) also existed, but that
party was largely dominated by Russians and Armenians. Some
members of Himmat broke away and formed the Musavat (Equality
Party) in 1912. This organization aimed at establishing an
independent Azerbaijani state, and its progressive and
nationalist slogans gained wide appeal. Himmat's Marxist
coloration involved it in wider ideological squabbles in the
period leading up to the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia.
After several further splits, the remainder of Himmat was
absorbed into the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik) shortly
before Azerbaijan was occupied by the Red Army in 1920.
Data as of March 1994
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