The Caucasus Region encompasses Russia’s oblasts south of the Volga River and north of the Caucasus Mountains, from Chechnya through Dagestan and Ingushetia to Dagestan and Ingushetia. Here you can find an insurgency by radical Islamist groups which has spread throughout this area of Russia.
By sheer luck, this region has managed to avoid the violence and instability seen elsewhere, yet it would be premature to assume peace is finally upon us.
History
As a cultural crossroads, the Caucasus region has always been rich with diversity. Pliny the Elder reported that Romans needed 80 interpreters in this region while Arabic geographers called it Jabal al-Alsun (“mountain of languages”). Geographic isolation among its four constituent countries of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Chechnya has contributed further. Crossing from Georgia into Chechnya may require traversing one of few mountain passes open during any given year or using one of several strategically-placed tunnels or crossing one of several mountain passes open during that year or making use of one of two strategic tunnels strategically constructed beneath these countries’ political borders.
Though each culture in the area has its own distinctive history of conquest and colonization, King explains how this history continues to shape modern societies in this area. He details how ethnic identity and religious affiliation continue to play powerful roles in shaping modern societies of this region – from prehuman activity through Islam and Christianity and then onto how Soviet experience cemented these identities into a sense of nationhood that went beyond clan or religious loyalties.
This book, written by specialists who understand both regional and contemporary politics in the Caucasus, presents a vibrant and captivating history of this area. They examine its complex relationship with Russia as well as its role throughout Russian history – from Tsarist efforts to expand their empire into Chechnya until today’s violence driven by Kremlin support of separatist movements there.
Though most residents in this region wish for nothing more than peace and success for their children, violence often remains unchecked due to historical myths of revenge and Islamic fundamentalism’s seductive appeal. When combined together, these factors can create conditions conducive to violence and rebellion among young men who feel powerless over their fate; such may have been the case with Tsarnaev brothers: their desire to appease an all-powerful god while exacting revenge may have proved too great an incentive.
Politics
Though small in size, the Caucasus region boasts one of the world’s richest cultural diversity. From human history’s beginnings, this has been an area of collisions, conflict and collaboration; today its peoples and politics continue to be shaped by these same forces that formed it.
Local communities nurture powerful myths of identity and revenge which can prove alluring for young men without employment or social connections unable to find secure employment, notably the Tsarnaev brothers who quickly turned into terrorist threats.
The geographical barriers of the Caucasus make it hard for any one power to exert dominion over this region. Crossing from, say, Georgia to Chechnya requires traversing mountain passes that only open part of the year or using one of several strategic tunnels. Furthermore, mountain ranges that comprise Greater and Lesser Caucasus serve as natural barriers protecting these regions from external influences while permitting their cultures to flourish independently for millennia.
These obstacles also explain the region’s great diversity: over 50 languages from small indigenous families as well as larger Indo-European, Turkic and Semitic families are spoken throughout the Caucasus region, as are several religions; Islam is by far the dominant faith despite living within nominally Muslim nations such as Azerbaijan and Armenia – many religious minorities do practice secular beliefs regardless.
Due to this unique interaction between cultures and politics, the Caucasus offers a fascinating environment in which to study how they influence one another and challenge old paradigms of international relations.
As global retrenchment becomes ever more severe, Caucasus leaders are seeking to develop closer ties with countries around them in an attempt to counterbalance Russian attempts at dominance of their region. Unfortunately, as Nagorno-Karabakh peace process demonstrated, regional trends may not provide sufficient balance against Russia. Therefore, Western powers should do whatever possible to mitigate COVID-19’s effect by providing adequate vaccine supplies and helping Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia address their underlying problems through coordinated government support programs.
Economy
As Central Asia and South Caucasus open up to globalization, they are experiencing many of the same transformations experienced elsewhere around the globe. These may bring both positive and negative ramifications;
States in the region are currently engaged in divergent economic strategies that often come into conflict. Each is seeking to reduce its own role in the economy while encouraging foreign direct investment to spur growth; as a result, states increasingly find themselves vying with each other for control in sectors where trade, energy and transportation intersect with one another.
These conflicts have only compounded social tensions further. State withdrawal from major sectors of the economy has, for instance, undermined majority participation in policymaking while permitting vastly unequal access to political power, creating the possibility for corruption and power consolidation within private interests with no oversight, and strengthening public cynicism.
Disconnection between state and society has also hindered civil societies in South Caucasus countries. Civil societies require foundations of enlightened self-interest, mutual trust, horizontal links between groups, respect for law and economic independence as well as willingness to change, which have proven difficult to develop due to an absence of clear social cleavages, limited awareness of common interests among groups as well as traditional loyalties towards kin or patrons.
Central Asia and the South Caucasus nations remain relatively isolated regions; yet their isolation offers them many potential trade and security agreements with partners from around the world. Many Middle Eastern states are actively interested in engaging more with Central Asia using natural resources from Caucasus as leverage points; The US should seek to explore these opportunities; collaborate with its European allies on devising an appropriate long-term strategy; encourage Central Asians and Caucasians to engage with Western culture in ways appropriate to their current circumstances and culture;
Culture
The Caucasus is an area of stunning natural beauty, from its snowcapped peaks in Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains to the lush forests found lower down. However, it also serves as an amazing cultural melting pot, hosting numerous ethnic groups who speak various languages and hold varied religious beliefs.
Although political borders separate countries in the Caucasus, physical obstacles make crossing from one to the other often impossible unless traversing one of a select few mountain passes open during part of the year or using one of several strategic tunnels – this has resulted in centuries of isolation within this region.
Caucasus Mountains offer both scenic beauty and rich archaeological treasures. Some of the earliest unequivocal evidence of humans outside Africa was discovered there, including famous skulls from Dmanisi in Georgia.
Many legends from the Caucasus draw on Prometheus’ myth as inspiration, such as that of Adyge/Circassian Nart Nasran who, according to legend, stole fire from gods and gave it to humanity before being chained to Mount Elbrus (Fedorov 1983).
Though violence remains high in this region, most individuals don’t live in constant conflict with each other due to a long tradition of proto-nations–culturally distinct groups not yet recognized as nations–in this region, King pointed out. Proto-nations led authors such as Tolstoy and Dumas to depict Caucasian highlanders’ struggle against Russian rule as romanticised yet sometimes brutal combatants in 19th-century works such as their novels or short stories.
But today a more diverse perception of the Caucasus is taking shape, as its inhabitants increasingly perceive themselves as European citizens rather than Russian subjects. Bullough’s book provides on-ground reporting complemented with deep historical knowledge to paint an accurate portrait of this region’s national and cultural complexities; from heroism, cultural pride and multifaceted religious beliefs to magnificent photos and clear maps; it makes this an invaluable read.