Political Studies / 2. Political Conflictology

Alexander V. Kostrov, Doctor of Science (History)

Irkutsk State University, Russia

Geopolitical Factor of Conflicts in the Caucasus Region

A reason of any conflict is a struggle for the control over the territory (geographic, social, economic, cultural or political one) having resource significance. The external form of the conflict is determined by the character of opposing communities’ identification (ethnic, confessional, ideological, civic and state). If a key role in their integration is played by a national form of identification, a conflict is realized as ethnic one. If religion is a main factor in integration of opposing sides, their clash has a form of a confessional conflict, etc. But in many cases there could be “mixed” and “complex” conflict situations. For instance, one of the actors considers itself to be an ethnos or ethno-confession, while another actor identifies itself as a state – the conflict can be named as a “mixed” one. If we take into account developments of a globalizing world, we can realize that the subjects of geopolitics in their struggle for the control over the territory of different regions resort to available integration models in a fight against opposed actors. That is why in the contemporary world we often can witness complex conflicts comprising ethnic, confessional, ideological, civil and state components. But in any case the reason for conflicts is territory and resources.

From time to time the Caucasus region suffers from tensions, and conflicts break out. What is the reason for it?

Specific features of this troubled region are a rough terrain going along with a complex ethnic and confessional structure of local communities, tribalism and a range of regional states having various potential and pretensions (recognized states: Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and unrecognized ones: Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic). All the factors form a certain potential for conflicts. However, the most important trait of the region is a junction of large territories and interests (including oil and communication ones) of geopolitics subjects. And the main reason for conflicts to start is a geopolitical factor.

History shows when the balance of power in the world is stable and the territory of the region is under the control of one geopolitical actor, the risk of a conflict in the Caucasus region is minimized. Destabilization of balance of power causes the collapse of a geopolitical epoch. Such destabilization brings about growth in clashes in the Caucasus region that is a significant crossroad. To seize the control over this territory is an intention not only of Russia, but also other actors. Particularly, local nations (Georgian, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Abkhazian, Osset, Chechen, Ingush, and Daghestani people and many others), regional actors (Russia, Turkey and Iran), and “far close neighbors” (Great Britain and the USA in recent times) get engaged into a struggle for different parts of the region.

For instance, grave active clash among Caucasian nations took place in a framework of Vienna geopolitical epoch collapse during World War I. When a main actor of the region - the Russian Empire - left the territory, local geopolitical field was set free. Increased nationalism of local nations and strengthening influence of other actors (Great Britain, Turkey and Iran) resulted in rise in conflicts. When the whole territory of the region fell under Russia’s control again (under the Soviet Union) and the balance of power crystallized, conflict potential in the region minimized.

The next stage of tension was closely linked to the collapse of Versailles-Washington geopolitical system during World War II. Local nations (particularly, Chechen and Ingush nations) were involved into military confrontation between the USSR and Germany. But WW II ended, and the balance of power got stabilized again and the conflicts in the Caucasus stopped for a long period – while Potsdam geopolitical system existed. Up to the beginning of its dismantling in the second half of 1980s local nations and confessions coexisted in peace. These nations did not divide the territory as it was controlled by the USSR – an actor having implicit power over the region. When the USSR weakened and left the territory, the increase in nationalism grew again along with interference of other international relations actors, primarily Turkey and the USA. The interests of different level actors overlapped, and conflicts of various intensity emerged.

General historical and geopolitical review lets us come to the conclusion that the main reason for conflicts to emerge in the Caucasus is a geopolitical factor, with this region having potential to conflicts.