Öz
The first result of modernity was the birth of the free individual against the traditional hierarchical structure. Nationalism, on the other hand, made the individual a part of national communities with the promise of equality (citizenship). Therefore, it can be said that nationalism is a culture specific to the modern political structure. However, nation-formation and nation-building have not been experienced in all societies in the same way. Hroch proposed three models - big nation, small nation, and intermediate case - for nation-building processes. In this direction, the nationalization process of the non-dominant ethnic groups, whose statehood tradition was cut and under colonial era in the age of nationalism, can be handled within the framework of the small nation model. In this study, the process of nationalization in the Tsarist Azerbaijan has been handled within the framework of the small nation model. The main purpose in using the small nation model has been to point out that nation-building is the process of creating a nation and state. In this context, it is concluded that the enlightenment in the A phase of the national movement is shaped within the framework of colonial modernization. For this reason, it is seen that traditional socialism and criticism of religion are dominant rather than national attitude (political demand against the dominant nation). In phase B, it caused a national revival as a result of the 1905 Revolution and the Armenian-Muslim conflict. However, the nation-state understanding (setting borders) could not be born. Phase C itself ensured the birth of the Azerbaijani Case (nation-state) within the framework of Turkism ideology. Therefore, the nation-building process of modern Azerbaijan has developed as the story of a non-dominant ethnic group seeking its nation and state.