Framing national security objectives: the cases of Georgia and Azerbaijan

Abstract

Between 2005 and 2007, Georgia and Azerbaijan developed their respective National Security Concepts. The article comparatively examines the existing policy patterns of territorial reintegration in these two countries and focuses on how that question is reflected in these important political documents. Comparative study of National Security Concepts of two South Caucasian states sheds light on the contextual features, the differences and similarities of pursuing territorial reintegration goals.

Keywords:

• Georgia
• Azerbaijan
• national security
• conflicts
• NATO

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Ron Hassner and Stephan Astourian from the University of California, Berkeley, for their thoughtful comments and criticism.

Notes

1. The scope and the methodology of this article do not allow covering the recent NSC of Georgia. For thorough analysis of Georgia’s recent national security concept see MacFarlane, N. 2012. Georgia: National Security Concept versus National Security, REP PP 2012/01, London, Chatham House, August.