Fear, Weakness and Power in the Post-Soviet South Caucasus: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis(New Security Challenges)

This book provides a detailed, multi-level analysis of international security in the South Caucasus and considers whether this region of the former Soviet Union, with several as yet unresolved, 'frozen' separatist conflicts, can move towards a more peaceable future. Using three concepts from Regional Security Complex Theory, amity/enmity, state incoherence and great power penetration, Oskanian forms a unique conceptual expansion of the theory, providing a comprehensive examination of both material conditions and discourses of insecurity. Applying this expanded framework onto a region of considerable complexity and conflict, the book considers the hostility between the South Caucasian states, the fissures underlying their secessionist conflicts, and the regional involvement of great powers, outlining the broader narratives that pervade societies in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The book also assesses the emergence of a security regime in the Southern Caucasus and offers a critical-prescriptive assessment of policy implications for both regional and extra-regional actors concerned with improved regional stability.

Table of Contents:
Geopolitical Map of the Caucasus Timeline of Events in the South Caucasus 1988-2009 A Note on Transliteration and Toponymy List of Acronyms and Abbreviations List of Interviewees 1. Introduction 2. Amity and Enmity in its Regional Context 3. State Incoherence as Weakness, Instability and Failure 4. Great Powers and Their Regional Entanglements 5. A Macro-View of the Southern Caucasus 6. Discourses of Conflict in the Southern Caucasus 7. State Incoherence in Southern Caucasia 8. The Great Powers and The Southern Caucasus 9. The South Caucasus Regional Insecurity Complex

About the Author :
Kevork Oskanian currently teaches at the University of Westminster, UK. He received his PhD from London School of Economics, UK and has formerly edited Millenium Journal of International Studies. His research interests include the politics of the Former Soviet Union, constructivism, the English School, regionalism, and state incoherence.

Review :
"This conceptually sophisticated study breaks new ground in using Regional Security Complex Theory to unravel the "Gordian knot" of relations within the South Caucasus. It deepens our understanding of the regional dimension in international relations theory, but also uncovers the deeper pattern of security interactions within a region long known for its complexity and instability. The book will therefore prove valuable for scholars and students of post-Soviet and wider regional studies, as well as for the theoretically minded wishing to learn more about a particularly fascinating part of the world." - Roy Allison, University of Oxford, UK "The South Caucasus is a fractious territory composed of fragmented states. This unique book describes it as a 'Regional Security Complex', exploring the concerns of its main actors with a strong sense of balance and precision. It applies the theoretical foundations of a regional approach to the conflicts in the South Caucasus, touching new ground in its thorough historical investigation of its patterns of amity and enmity. The book's rigorous conceptual framework allows for an insightful delineation of possible future scenarios, featuring, for instance, Armenia's rivalry with Azerbaijan, the impact of Western values in shaping Georgia's political identity, and the emergence of a more stable security regime."- Bruno Coppieters, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium "This book is a major contribution to the understanding of the international relations of the Southern Caucasus. Most literature on the subject is largely descriptive and historical. Oskanian makes a major contribution by embedding a rich empirical analysis into a clear conceptual and theoretical frame. In so doing, he also contributes to theoretical development by suggesting an appropriate modification of Regional Security Complex Theory." - Neil MacFarlane, University of Oxford, UK