Conflicts In The Caucasus

Olga Vassilieva

 

 

Introduction
Causes
Main Conflicts
Current Situation

Perspectives

Ethnic Map of the Caucasus

 




 

                                                                                          
Gazeta.ru April 17, 2001


         A high conflict potential in the Caucasian region and the North Caucasus as its part is conditioned by "natural" causes of conflict such as poly-ethnic and poly-cultural population, the scarcity of resources (first of all, territory), a high population growth rate, extensive migrations and, at the same time, the preservation of compact ethnic communities. Soviet national policy based on the idea of ethno-federalism smoothed ethnic tensions and provided inter-ethnic peace during the industrialization period, but it also created conditions that promoted the ethnic competition in poly-ethnic autonomies and “union” republics.

Social mobilization during Gorbachev's perestroika turned into ethno-national movements under the slogans of the restoration (the creation) of national autonomy in "historical territory of a particular ethnic group” that, in turn, fueled inter-ethnic conflicts all over the Caucasus as several ethnic groups consider the same territory "an ethnic motherland."

Five conflicts, including current Russian war in Chechenia, have turned into deadly violent conflicts. Many conflicts are frozen in the “no peace, no war” state. Conflict prevention remains the main priority and need for this region. Meanwhile, there is no third-part actor, who not only is deeply interested in conflict prevention, but also possesses necessary resources and political will. Russia, Turkey and Iran have no sufficient potential as well as political trust, considering historical relationships among peoples in the region. Criticizing Russia for its policy towards the Caucasus, the West has kept distance to be involved in the conflict mediation, or conflict transformation. NGOs are weak, and do not have significant influence in the region.

The United Nations and OCSE peacekeeping and preventive actions would be the most desirable option for conflict management in the Caucasus. They could bring neutrality and impartiality so necessary and so deficient in the Caucasus. The UN and OCSE could provide diplomatic and political expertise to manage crises, special tools for bringing parties together in long but constructive dialogue. They might organize diplomatic and even economic pressure on the sides in conflict. However, the UN has been overloaded by responsibilities trying to mediate conflicts all over the globe; OCSE has mainly concerned the Balkan conflict zone. Understanding precisely, that conflict management in the Caucasus is impossible without all-side developments efforts, international organizations have limitated their activities by humanitarian actions.

Which mechanism might be proposed additionally to create and strengthen a preventive regime in the Caucasus? In my opinion, the creation and development of regional – Caucasian – organization(s) might become such a mechanism in the future. This organization (or a network of organizations) might create a basis for the development of a security community in the region.

During the last decade the Caucasus has demonstrated two tendencies – the growth of competitive ethno-national movements and the development of different cooperative organizations. It has reflected a multi-level choice of identities. Peoples of the Caucasus have ascribed themselves to a local community, to a tribe, to an ethnos, to a particular religious or political movement. But what unites all these peoples living now in different states is the common Caucasian identity based not on common language but shared regional myths, traditions and values. Ethnic identity has played a key role in the development of ethno-nationalisms, and as a consequence, in conflict escalation, considering scarce resources and mutual claims. Caucasian identity resulted in the development of cooperative movements, which contribute to conflict resolution, although their influence on conflict development were much weaker than the contribution of an ethnic identity to conflict escalation.

This paper considers causes and main conflicts in the Caucasus, current situation and perspectives for conflict settlement.