The Caucasus : An Introduction

In this fascinating book, noted journalist Thomas de Waal--author of the highly acclaimed Black Garden --makes the case that while the Caucasus is often treated as a sub-plot in the history of Russia, or as a mere gateway to Asia, the five-day war in Georgia, which flared into a major international crisis in 2008, proves that this is still a combustible region, whose inner dynamics and history deserve a much more complex appreciation from the wider world. In The Caucasus , de Waal provides this richer, deeper, and much-needed appreciation, one that reveals that the South Caucasus--Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, and their many smaller regions, enclaves, and breakaway entities--is a fascinating and distinct world unto itself. Providing both historical background and an insightful analysis of the period after 1991, de Waal sheds light on how the region has been scarred by the tumultuous scramble for independence and the three major conflicts that broke out with the end of the Soviet Union--Nagorny Karabakh, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia. The book examines the region as a major energy producer and exporter; offers a compelling account of the Rose Revolution in Georgia, the rise of Mikheil Saakashvili, and the August 2008 war; and considers the failure of the South Caucasus, thus far, to become a single viable region. In addition, the book features a dozen or so "boxes" which provide brief snapshots of such fascinating side topics as the Kurds, Turkish-Armenian rapprochement, the promotion of the region as the "Soviet Florida," and the most famous of all Georgians, Stalin. The Caucasus delivers a vibrantly written and timely account of this turbulent region, one that will prove indispensable for all concerned with world politics. It is, as well, a stimulating read for armchair travelers and for anyone curious about far-flung corners of the world. Contextualizes Recent Russia/georgia Clash Through An Accessible History Of The Region In Modern Times. Thomas De Waal Is A Noted Expert On The Region, Having Written Two Acclaimed Books On It: Black Garden And Chechnya. In This Well-researched Book, He Makes The Case That While The Caucasus Is Often Treated As A Sub-plot In The History Of Russia, Or As A Mere Gateway To Asia, The Five-day War In Georgia, Which Flared Into A Major International Crisis In 2008, Proves This Is A Combustible Region, Whose Inner Dynamics And History Deserve A Much More Complex Appreciation. In The Caucasus, De Waal Reveals That South Caucasus : Armenia, Azerbaijan, And Georgia, And Their Many Smaller Regions, Enclaves, And Breakaway Entities, Is A Fascinating Distinct World. Providing Historical Background And Insightful Analysis Of The Period After 1991, De Waal Shows How The Region Has Been Scarred By Tumultuous Scramble For Independence And The Three Major Conflicts That Broke Out With The End Of The Soviet Union : Nagorno-karabakh, Abkhazia, And South Ossetia. The Book Examines The Region As A Major Energy Producer And Exporter; Offers An Account Of Rose Revolution In Georgia, The Rise Of Mixeil Saakašvili And August 2008 War; And Considers Failure Of The South Caucasus To Become A Single Viable Region. His Book Features Side Topics As Kurds, Turkish-armenian Rapprochement, The Promotion Of The Region As The Soviet Florida, And The Most Famous Georgian, Stalin. The Caucasus Delivers A Vibrantly Written And Timely Account Of This Turbulent Region--publisher's Description. Among The Mountains -- Russia's South -- The Soviet Caucasus -- Armenia And Azerbaijan : An Intimate Quarrel -- Georgia : Nationalism And War -- Caspian Energy And Caucasian Corridors -- Modern Georgia : Rebirth, Rose Revolution, And Conflict -- Conclusion: Making A Region -- Chronology. Thomas De Waal. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In this fascinating book, noted journalist Thomas de Waal--author of the highly acclaimed --makes the case that while the Caucasus is often treated as a sub-plot in the history of Russia, or as a mere gateway to Asia, the five-day war in Georgia, which flared into a major international crisis in 2008, proves that this is still a combustible region, whose inner dynamics and history deserve a much more complex appreciation from the wider world. In , de Waal provides this richer, deeper, and much-needed appreciation, one that reveals that the South Caucasus--Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, and their many smaller regions, enclaves, and breakaway entities--is a fascinating and distinct world unto itself. Providing both historical background and an insightful analysis of the period after 1991, de Waal sheds light on how the region has been scarred by the tumultuous scramble for independence and the three major conflicts that broke out with the end of the Soviet Union--Nagorny Karabakh, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia. The book examines the region as a major energy producer and exporter; offers a compelling account of the Rose Revolution in Georgia, the rise of Mikheil Saakashvili, and the August 2008 war; and considers the failure of the South Caucasus, thus far, to become a single viable region. In addition, the book features a dozen or so "boxes" which provide brief snapshots of such fascinating side topics as the Kurds, Turkish-Armenian rapprochement, the promotion of the region as the "Soviet Florida," and the most famous of all Georgians, Stalin. __The Caucasus__ In this well-researched and fascinating book, noted journalist Thomas de Waal--author of the highly acclaimed Black Garden--makes the case that while the Caucasus is often treated as a sub-plot in the history of Russia, or as a mere gateway to Asia, the five-day war in Georgia, which flared into a major international crisis in 2008, proves that this is still a combustible region, whose inner dynamics and history deserve a much more complex appreciation from the wider world. In The Caucasus, de Waal provides this richer, deeper, and much-needed appreciation, one that reveals that the South Cauc Contents 8 Introduction 14 1. AMONG THE MOUNTAINS 19 2. RUSSIA’S SOUTH 50 3. THE SOVIET CAUCASUS 84 4. ARIMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN: AN INTIMATE QUARREL 111 5. GEORGIA: NATIONALISM AND WAR 144 6. CASPIAN ENERGY AND CAUCASIAN CORRIDORS 180 7. MODERN GEORGIA: REBIRTH, ROSE REVOLUTION, AND CONFLICT 201 Conclusion: Making a Region 238 Chronology 242 Notes 250 Index 262 A 262 B 263 C 264 D 265 E 265 F 265 G 265 H 266 I 266 J 266 K 267 L 267 M 267 N 268 O 269 P 269 R 269 S 270 T 271 U 271 V 272 W 272 Y 272 Z 272 Among the mountains -- Russia's south -- The Soviet Caucasus -- Armenia and Azerbaijan : an intimate quarrel -- Georgia : nationalism and war -- Caspian energy and Caucasian security -- Rebirth, Rose Revolution, and conflict in Georgia -- Conclusion: Making a region -- Chronology