B0167 - POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE CAUCASUS

Learning outcomes

Students are expected to achieve an in-depth knowledge of the complicated process of state-building in the South Caucasian States - Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia - in historical and geopolitical perspectives. In this framework students will additionally learn how the stability of the newly independent states is affected, focusing on peculiarities of the power struggle, the role of the clans in local politics and human rights issues.

Course contents

B0167 - POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE CAUCASUS

ANNO ACCADEMICO 2023/2024

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

The aim of the course is to give the student a broad knowledge of the Caucasus – a politically turbulent region characterized by high ethnic diversity and located in a vulnerable geopolitical setting. The course introduces students to the Caucasus region, its ethnic groups and languages, geography, political and administrative divisions, history, the region’s incorporation into the Russian Empire, the Soviet legacy and more recent developments, including the region’s post-Soviet inter and intra-state /separatist conflicts, role of energy, as well as geopolitical perspectives and interests of extra-regional actors involved. The focus is on the political, economic and social developments ,power struggle, democracy and human rights in the Caucasus region in the post-Soviet period. By providing holistic academic study of the Caucasus, either sovereign states of the South or Russian controlled North, from an interdisciplinary perspective, the course aims to prepare the new generation of experts capable to tackle grand challenges of the region.

Contenuti

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

Course objectives

Contenuti

Course contents

Course contents

B0167 CAUCASIAN STUDIES

LM MIREES (COD.8049)

ANNO ACCADEMICO 2023/2024

Programma/Contenuti

Albert Bininachvili

Caucasus and Central Asian Studies Program

MIREES University of Bologna

NEW

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the Caucasus and Central Asian Studies Program UNIBO. Discover the fascinating world of one of the last unexplored frontiers in the field of area studies.

We are pleased to announce that following its successful experimental launch in 2021/22 academic year

“THE CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA: SECURITY AND GEOPOLITICS”COURSE ANNUALLY TAUGHT AT THE FORLI CAMPUS FOR OVER A DECADE IS PRESENTED NOW IN A NEW FULLY REVISED AND EXTENDED FORMAT OF TWO SEPARATE ALTHOUGH HIGHLY COMPLEMENTARY MODULES (BO-167 POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE CAUCASUS-40 HOURS AND BO-242 CENTRAL ASIA BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA: POLITICS AND CONFLICT-40 HOURS).

Given the high level of interconnectedness and complementarity of both courses the students may consider enrolment in both modules.

This new format represents not just a routine modification, but reflects the strong outgoing commitment of the Caucasus/Central Asian Studies Program and its founder Professor Albert Bininachvili to further strengthen and consolidate the undisputable position of the MIREES and Bologna University as the leading Italian and one of the fore-front European Institutions in the field of the Caucasus and Central Asian Studies.

What primarily distinguishes the new “THE CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA: SECURITY AND GEOPOLITICS” MIREES program from similar programs offered by other institutions is among its other winning features, its extended regional format not confined by the former Soviet borders.

The current realities of the Caucasus and Central Asia are analyzed within the framework of the renewal of its traditional cultural-civilizational context of the Broader Middle East.

This innovative approach allows us to assist the students in developing indispensable multidimensional vision of the complex intertwined regional realities and their dynamics.

The students attending the POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE CAUCASUS class, among other things, are offered a rarely obtainable in other similar courses balanced and adequate coverage of the issue of divided nationalities: Kurds, Azeris, Assirians etc.), diasporas (Armenian, Circassian, etc.) intra regional and extra-regional migrations and their implications.

Course description and its objectives

The course examines complicated process of state building in the South Caucasian countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) as well as political processes evolving in the separatist statelets of the Southern Caucasus (Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Karabagh/Artsakh), the Northern Caucasus, Volga-Urals and other Muslim populated regions of the Russian Federation in historical and geostrategic perspectives.

The focus is on the comparative study of political, ideological and institutional factors affecting stability of these newly independent states; peculiarities of the power struggle, democracy and human rights.

Particular attention is given to the dynamics of inter-ethnic and inter-state conflicts and the assessment of the role of foreign powers, international organizations and NGOs in conflict-management and conflict-resolution efforts.

The political and military implications of the growing Russia's revisionist expansionism, Russian-Georgian war, the annexation of Crimea, full scale invasion of Ukraine and further annexations of the Ukrainian territories, evolution of approaches to the “frozen conflicts” as a means of Moscow's expansionism; the lessons of the Chechen wars and ongoing smoldering North Caucasus crisis are thoroughly examined.

Special attention is paid to the analysis of dynamics of Russian security strategy in the Caucasus, assessment of methods and techniques of conflict management applied by Moscow to the Chechen, Georgian, Armenian-Azerbaijani and other conflicts, their potential applicability to other parts of the post-Soviet space as well as potential Western and regional antidotes to deal with Russian defiance.

Developments in the sovereign South Caucasian states are viewed in the broader regional perspective against the backdrop of the rising “assertiveness” of Russia, US interests and commitments in the neighboring areas of the Middle East and South Asia, EU and NATO role, as well as overlapping interests and security agendas of China and regional powers like Iran and Turkey, India and Pakistan.

The international dimensions of the Caucasian politics are examined through the prism of ever growing importance of the Caspian hydrocarbon resources and the overwhelming issue of the European and Western energy security. The role of Russian and Western energy companies, their influence and impact on the decision –making and formulation of Caspian policies of their respective governments are addressed in detail.

Special emphasis on the analysis of economic and geopolitical implications of the new competing transport corridors passing through the Caucasus.

The course examines the Caucasus and its realities along thematic as well as country/regional lines, and views the area as integral part of several overlapping geostrategic configurations: Extended Europe, Greater Middle East, Post-Soviet Space, and Eurasia- an arena of criss-crossed geopolitical interests of the US, Russia, rising superpowers of the 21st century China and India, as well as a myriad of regional powers.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the students are expected to:

• have an advanced knowledge of the Caucasus region, including their geography, ethnic composition, main languages, religions, demographic distribution, political systems, economy, administrative division.

• demonstrate understanding of present political, socio-economic and cultural developments in the Caucasus;

• demonstrate familiarity with existent research on topical empirical issues related to the Post-Soviet developments in the Caucasus .

• be able to apply obtained knowledge of the geographical, political, socio-economic and cultural characteristics of the Caucasus as tools in further analyses of empirical reports as well as theoretical works on the region.

• interpret current political, socio-economic and cultural processes evolving in the area.

• demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate sources and assess bias in material used as empirical evidence.

Overall, the students are expected to achieve an in-depth knowledge of the complicated process of state-building in the South Caucasian states - in historical and geopolitical perspectives and develop ability for conducting rigorous, applied and policy-relevant research on this region.

Readings/Bibliography

Testi/Bibliografia

Course literature and other study material

Readings/Bibliography

Selected Readings:

The [http://www.cacianalyst.org/]

Azerbaijan Profile (2006/April). World of Information Cambridge, England: Walden Publishing Ltd, 2006. (10 p.)

Coene, F. The Caucasus: an introduction. Routledge, 2009 (255 p.)

Georgia Profile (2006/April). World of Information Cambridge, England:, Walden Publishing Ltd; 2006. (7 p.)

Ghokay, Bhulent. Politics of Caspian Oil. Gordonsville, VA, USA: Palgrave Macmillan, 2001. (p.1-50)

Malek, M. The South Caucasus at the Crossroads: Ethno-territorial Conflicts, Russian Interests, and the Access to Energy Resources. In: G. Hauser & F. Kernic (eds.), European security in transition. Aldershot, England ; Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2006., (p.145-160).

Phillips, D.L. Stability, security and sovereignty in the Republic of Georgia: rapid response conflict prevention assessment, sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations Center for Preventative Action; David L. Phillips, New York, NY: Council on Foreign Relations Press, 2004. (29 p.) (available online)

Peimani, H. General Overview of the Caucasian and the Central Asian Countries at the Time of Independence. In: Failed Transition, Bleak Future? War and Instability in Central Asia and the Caucasus, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002, (7-24.)

Zuidema, L. & D. Bigman (Ed.). Globalization and the Developing Countries: Emerging Strategies for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation.

Wallingford, Oxon, GBR: CABI Publishing, 2002. (p. 259-274)

The course uses additional online resourses and articles of approx, 150 + 200 pages.

Reference literature

Minahan, J. One Europe, Many Nations : A Historical Dictionary of European National Groups, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2000

Dalby, A. Dictionary of Languages. Huntingdon, , GBR: A & C Black, 2006.

Charles Fairbanks, Fred Starr, eds., Strategic assessment of Central Eurasia, Washington, The Atlantic Council, 2001

Svante Cornell, Small Nations and Great Powers: A Study of Ethnopolitical Conflict in the Caucasus, Richmond, 2001

Svante Cornell, Autonomy and Conflict. Ethnoterritoriality and Separatism in the South Caucasus,Washington, 2002

Fred Starr, Svante Cornell, The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline: Oil window to the West, Washington, 2005

The Caucasus states: the regional security complex, by J. Aves in “Security Dilemmas in Russia and Eurasia”,L.,1998, pp.175-187

Peacekeeping and conflict management in Eurasia, by P. Baev in “Security Dilemmas in Russia and Eurasia”,L.1998, pp.209-230

The Chechnia conflict; military and security policy implications, by R.Allison in “Security Dilemmas in Russia and Eurasia”,L. 1998, pp.241-280

Nationalities and borders in Transcaucasia and the North Caucasus, by G.Joffe in “Transcaucasian Boundaries”,L. 1996,pp.15-33

Russia and Transcaucasia, by M. Light in “Transcaucasian Boundaries”,L.1996, pp.34-5

Condemned to react, unable to influence: Iran and Transcaucasia, by F. Halliday, in “Transcaucasian Boundaries”,L. 1996,pp.71-88

The Armenian presence in mountainous Karabakh, by C.Walker, in “Transcaucasian Boundaries”, L. 1996,pp. 89-112

The Republic of Azerbaijan: state borders in the past and present, by S.Alijarly, in “Transcaucasian Boundaries”,L.1996, pp.113-133

The geopolitics of Georgia, by J.Wright, in “Transcaucasian Boundaries”, London,1996, pp.134-150

The Georgian/South Ossetian territorial and boundary dispute, by J.Birch in “Transcaucasian Boundaries” ,L.1996,pp.151-189

Abkhazia: a problem of identity and ownership, by B.Hewitt, in “Transcaucasian Boundaries”,L.,1996,pp.190-226

Iran and Transcaucasia in the Post-Soviet Era, by S.Hunter, in “Central Asia Meets the Middle East”,L.1998,pp.98-128

Turkey and Transcaucasia, by W. Hale , in “Central Asia Meets the Middle East”,L.,1998,pp.150-167

The Eastern Question Revived: Turkey and Russia Contend for Eurasia, by S. Blank, in “Central Asia Meets the Middle East”,L.1998, pp.16 8-190

The Institutions , Orientations and Conduct of Foreign Policy in Post-Soviet Azerbaijan, by L. Alieva, in ”The Making of Foreign Policy in Russia and the New States of Eurasia”,NY,1995,pp.286-308

Armenia's Foreign Policy: Defining Priorities and Coping with Conflict, by R.Adalian, in “The Making of Foreign Policy in Russia and the New States of Eurasia”, pp.309-339

The Ethnohistorical Dynamics of Muslim Societies within Russia and CIS, by S.Panarin, in “Central Asia and the Caucasus after the Soviet Union: Domestic and International Dynamics”, NY, 1994, pp.17-33

The” Internal” Muslim Factor in the Politics of Russia: Tatarstan and the North Caucasus, by M. Bennigsen Broxup, in “Central Asia and the Caucasus after the Soviet Union”, NY, 1994, pp.75-98

Georgia: From Chaos to Stability?, by J.Aves,L.1996,60 p.

Russia and Transcaucasia: The case of Nagorno-Karabakh, by O. Smolansky, in Regional Power Rivalries in the New Eurasia, NY,1995, pp.201-230

Iran and the Former Soviet South, by E.Herzig,L.1995, 60 p.

Unity, Diversity and Conflict in the Northern Caucasus, by M. Gammer, in “Muslim Eurasia: Conflicting Legacies”,L.1995,163-186

Azerbaijan's Triangular relationship: The Land Between Russia, Turkey and Iran, by

T. Swietochowski, in “The New Geopolitics of Central Asia and Its Borderlands”,L.,1994,pp. 118-135.jhj

Banerji, Arap. 2006. 'Notes on the Histories of History in the Soviet Union' in Economic and Political Weekly 41 (9): 826-833.

Caucasus Analytical Digest. 2009. Writing National Histories: Coming to Terms with the Past.

Gammer, Moshe and Vera Kaplan. 2013. 'Post-Soviet Narratives of the Conquest of the Caucasus' in Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas 61 (1): 26-46.

Garagozov, Rauf. 2012. 'Azerbaijani history and nationalism in the Soviet and post-Soviet periods: challenges and dilemmas' in Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflicts 5 (2): 136-142.

King, Charles. 2008. The Ghost of Freedom: A History of the Caucasus. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Rouvinski, Vladimir. 2007. '"History Speaks Our Language!" A Comparative Study of Historical Narratives in Soviet and Post-Soviet School Textbooks in the Caucasus' in Internationale Schulbuchforschung 29 (3): 235-257.

Suny, Ronald. 2009. 'Truth in Telling: Reconciling Realities in the Genocide of the Ottoman Armenians' in The American Historical Review 114 (4): 930-946.

Åslund, Anders. 2008. ‘Transition Economies.’ In: The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics. Library of Economics and Liberty.

Gafarli, Orhan et al. 2016. “The Role of Global and Regional Actors in the South Caucasus”. Caucasus Edition - Journal of Conflict Transformation, June 1. 2016.

Hunter, Shireen T. “The Evolution of the Foreign Policy of the Transcaucasian States” In: Garry K. Bertsch et al. (eds), Crossroad and Conflict. Security and Foreign Policy in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Florence: Taylor and Francis, 1999. pp 25-47.

Kempe, Iris et. al. (eds). ”Social Capital.” Caucasus Analytical Digest (CAD), issue 31, November 2011. Pp: 1-18.

Malek, M. 2006. “The South Caucasus at the Crossroads: Ethno-territorial Conflicts, Russian Interests, and the Access to Energy Resources”. In: G. Hauser & F. Kernic (eds.) European security in transition. Aldershot, England; Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2006, p.145-160.

McFaul, Michael. 2005. “Transitions from Postcommunism”. Journal of Democracy, Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 5-19.

 

Teaching methods

The course is designed as a full time flexible study. Learning activities include traditional lectures; mandatory assignments; interactive seminars and individual consultations. The substantial part of the student’s workload consists of independent reading and study.

Assessment methods

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: final oral exam and substantial paper (10-15 pages).

The final grade will be based on the combined assessment of the constructive class participation (10%), oral exam(40%) and the essay (50%).

Topics must be chosen in consultation with the instructor prior to the beginning of the fourth week of class.

Teaching tools

Whatever is considered necessary by the instructor.

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Albert Bininachvili [https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/albert.bininachvili]

Office hours

See the website of Albert Bininachvili