A new concept for the Caucasus

Abstract

This article offers a new perspective of the regional dimensions and historical, political and economic legacies of the Caucasus. The Caucasus is composed of three regions: the Central Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia), the North Caucasus (some southern autonomous republics of Russia), and the South Caucasus (some northern provinces of Iran and Turkey). Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey are one ‘team’ in the implementation of regional projects for the development of transportation networks, while Armenia, Iran and Russia are in principle opposed to these projects. Further activation of the cooperation of the United States and the European Union in the Caucasus is, therefore, very important in obtaining as many alternative sources of oil and natural gas as possible.

Keywords:

• Caucasus
• economic integration
• energy
• pipelines
• Russia

Notes

1. Geopolitical economy expands the framework of political economy by drawing geographical and historical aspects of the topic under study into the analysis (Reifer 2005, 195–6).

2. On the difficulties of the nation‐building in Georgia after Rose Revolution, see Mitchell 2006; Papava 2006.