Transnational religious movements and soft power -- Saudi Arabia's religious soft power -- The emergence of Salafism in Azerbaijan -- From Medina to Baku: educated youth and transnational linkages -- The formation of the Salafi movement in Azerbaijan -- Salafi da'wa and the Azerbaijani state -- Transnational rivals: quietist Salafis vs. jihadis -- From physical space to cyberspace -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References: -- 6. Islam and Turkey's soft power in Azerbaijan -- Introduction -- Turkish foreign policy and soft power -- Turkish religious actors in Azerbaijan -- Turkey's changing soft power and the Gülen movement in Azerbaijan -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- Part III. The case of Armenia -- 7. Religion as a factor in Kurdish identity discourse in Armenia and Turkey -- Introduction -- Kurds and Yezidis: ethnic and religious factors -- Identity issues: ethnicity vs. religion -- The Kurdish/Yezidi community in Armenia -- Armenian and Turkish policy towards Kurdish/Yezidi groups -- Foreign soft power-policy towards the Kurdish/Yezidi community in Armenia -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 8. Iran's soft power policy in Armenia -- Historical and geopolitical background -- Cultural diplomacy and religion -- Means and performance of Iran's cultural diplomacy in Armenia -- The Blue Mosque -- Farsi instruction -- Publications, translations and dissemination of Iranian literature -- Radio broadcasting -- Academic conferences -- Exhibitions and concerts -- Nowruz in Yerevan -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- Part IV. The EU-Russia framework -- 9. Face to face with conservative religious values -- Introduction -- Human rights dialogues -- Armenia -- Georgia -- Azerbaijan -- Religiosity and societal reception of the human rights agenda -- Impact of religion on support for EU integration -- Conclusions -- Notes -- References