The Caucasus: An IntroductionOxford University Press, 2018 M12 3 - 312 pages Fully revised and updated, Tom de Waal's The Caucasus is an essential and authoritative introduction to this complex region. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and the breakaway territories that have tried to split away from these states constitute one of the most diverse and challenging regions on earth, impressing the visitor with their multi-layered history, ethnic complexity, and seemingly intractable conflicts. Over the last few years, the South Caucasus region has captured international attention again because of its role in disputes between the West and Russia, its unsolved conflicts, and its role as an energy transport corridor to Europe. De Waal begins with a historical overview and then shifts his attention to the contemporary era, particularly the roiling conflicts over Nagorny Karabakh, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia. He also analyzes the energy politics of the region, the 2008 "Five-Day War" between Georgia and Russia, and recent political changes in all three countries. In addition, the book features brief snapshots of fascinating side topics such as Georgian wine, Baku jazz, and how the coast of Abkhazia came to be known as the "Soviet Florida." Concise, stimulating, and rich in detail, The Caucasus is the perfect guide to this fascinating and misunderstood region. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Abkhaz Abkhazia and South Ajaria Aliev April Armenians and Azerbaijanis army August Azerbaijan Azeri Baku Batumi became began Beria Black Sea Bolsheviks border called captured Caspian Sea Caucasian ceasefire century Christian church declared deported diaspora dispute eastern economic elected ethnic groups Europe European fighting force foreign Gamsakhurdia Genocide Georgian Dream Georgian nation Greeks historian identity independence Iran Iranian Islam issue Ivanishvili Karabakh Armenians Karabakh conflict killed Kurds language large numbers later leader live Menshevik Mikheil Saakashvili military million minister Moscow mountains Muslim Nagorny Karabakh nationalist negotiations North officials Ottoman Empire parliament party peace peacekeeping percent Persian pipeline political population president Putin regime region Republic Rose Revolution Russian Rustaveli Saakashvili Sargsyan Shevardnadze Shusha side South Caucasus South Ossetia Soviet Union Stalin status Sukhumi Tbilisi territory Tiflis town Transcaucasian Transcaucasus Treaty troops tsarist Tskhinvali Turkey Turkish Turks villages Yerevan