The Caucasus region, located in the intersection
between the Eurasian steppe to the north and the
highlands of the Middle East to the south, has often
become a borderland separating cultures and imperial
interests. The last in the series of empires, those of the
Russians, Persians and Ottomans, have all left their traces
in the region, and today’s Russia, Iran and Turkey are of
great importance culturally and economically. At the
same time, the Caucasus is one of the world’s most
multifaceted regions linguistically and culturally.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the region was
marred by instability in the 1990s, resulting in closed
borders and at times open conflict. But the opening up to
the outside world also meant renewed large-scale
exploitation of the Caspian oil and gas resources, and the
Caucasus - the northern as well as the southern part - has
become an important transit route to Europe.
Developments have also brought the South Caucasus
countries closer to the EU through its Neighbourhood
Policy.
The three South Caucasus republics Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan have gone through turbulent times since independence
from the Soviet Union. Georgia and Azerbaijan both experienced periods of internal fragmentation during the 1990s. The bloody
war over Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan became the first major conflict to erupt in connection with the
dissolution of Soviet power. It is still unresolved, as are Georgia’s conflicts with the Russia-supported de facto independent
entities Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
All three countries are today characterised by strong presidential powers, but their external policy and economic development
have gone in different directions.
The Russian North Caucasus consists of seven republics with a varying degree of actual autonomy. The steppe between the Black
and Caspian Seas - the Stavropol and Krasnodar regions and the republic of Kalmykia - share some of the features of the
Caucasus region. Since 2009 Moscow administers six of the Caucasian republics and the Stavropol region collectively as a North
Caucasus Federal District. The Caucasian republics have a complex ethnic composition with a strong national and religious
identity, at times at odds with the Russian administration. The Chechen Wars, the most traumatic conflict of modern Russia,
fuelled a radicalisation and militarisation, which today in terms of security make the eastern parts of the North Caucasus
Russia’s most challenging region. At the same time, the region is preparing for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi with large
investments.
Turkey has experienced gradual but tangible changes in the last decade. The role of the army in the country’s affairs has
weakened and Turkey has hesitantly opened up to embrace the role of islam, while largely remaining within the limits of its
Kemalist traditions. The closeness to NATO and the EU is being complemented with an approachment to the southern
neighbourhood and Russia. Solid economic development and the new assertive policies of the ruling party, AKP, make the country
an increasingly important international actor, not least in neighbouring Caucasus and in Central Asia, with which Turkey shares
cultural ties. With its conscious reorientation, Turkey has the potential to exert influence as a mediator and driving economic
force between these regions and Europe, Iran and the Middle East. However, for this to succeed, internal conflicts and
socioeconomic development must be managed, as well as the continuing adaptation of the ideological foundations of the state to
changing circumstances.
Contact Forum Eurasien for information, projects and cooperation in and about the Caucasus and Turkey.
More information
between the Eurasian steppe to the north and the
highlands of the Middle East to the south, has often
become a borderland separating cultures and imperial
interests. The last in the series of empires, those of the
Russians, Persians and Ottomans, have all left their traces
in the region, and today’s Russia, Iran and Turkey are of
great importance culturally and economically. At the
same time, the Caucasus is one of the world’s most
multifaceted regions linguistically and culturally.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the region was
marred by instability in the 1990s, resulting in closed
borders and at times open conflict. But the opening up to
the outside world also meant renewed large-scale
exploitation of the Caspian oil and gas resources, and the
Caucasus - the northern as well as the southern part - has
become an important transit route to Europe.
Developments have also brought the South Caucasus
countries closer to the EU through its Neighbourhood
Policy.
The three South Caucasus republics Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan have gone through turbulent times since independence
from the Soviet Union. Georgia and Azerbaijan both experienced periods of internal fragmentation during the 1990s. The bloody
war over Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan became the first major conflict to erupt in connection with the
dissolution of Soviet power. It is still unresolved, as are Georgia’s conflicts with the Russia-supported de facto independent
entities Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
All three countries are today characterised by strong presidential powers, but their external policy and economic development
have gone in different directions.
The Russian North Caucasus consists of seven republics with a varying degree of actual autonomy. The steppe between the Black
and Caspian Seas - the Stavropol and Krasnodar regions and the republic of Kalmykia - share some of the features of the
Caucasus region. Since 2009 Moscow administers six of the Caucasian republics and the Stavropol region collectively as a North
Caucasus Federal District. The Caucasian republics have a complex ethnic composition with a strong national and religious
identity, at times at odds with the Russian administration. The Chechen Wars, the most traumatic conflict of modern Russia,
fuelled a radicalisation and militarisation, which today in terms of security make the eastern parts of the North Caucasus
Russia’s most challenging region. At the same time, the region is preparing for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi with large
investments.
Turkey has experienced gradual but tangible changes in the last decade. The role of the army in the country’s affairs has
weakened and Turkey has hesitantly opened up to embrace the role of islam, while largely remaining within the limits of its
Kemalist traditions. The closeness to NATO and the EU is being complemented with an approachment to the southern
neighbourhood and Russia. Solid economic development and the new assertive policies of the ruling party, AKP, make the country
an increasingly important international actor, not least in neighbouring Caucasus and in Central Asia, with which Turkey shares
cultural ties. With its conscious reorientation, Turkey has the potential to exert influence as a mediator and driving economic
force between these regions and Europe, Iran and the Middle East. However, for this to succeed, internal conflicts and
socioeconomic development must be managed, as well as the continuing adaptation of the ideological foundations of the state to
changing circumstances.
Contact Forum Eurasien for information, projects and cooperation in and about the Caucasus and Turkey.
More information