The Baku Oil and Local Communities: A History

The aim of this book is to shed light on parts of the history of the oil industry which are usually neglected, namely, the lives and faith of the communities living in oil-bearing areas. Scholarly literature on the subject suggests that the “paradox of plenty” makes areas rich in hydrocarbon resources prone to poverty and conflict, with the Niger Delta in Nigeria, Africa, offering an outstanding example of this. Although the case study of Baku villages focuses on the historical impact of oil development, given that half a century ago oil production had moved away from this area to the sea, the region nevertheless matters from the point of view of the consequences which many centuries of oil production has had on local communities.