The incorporation of non-material factors, such as historical feelings, ethnic nationalism, ideology, and ideas into foreign policy making by the nationalist governments of the Southern Caucasus (SC) countries have exacerbated relations with Russia. Taking this fact into consideration, the foreign policy actors of the SC states considered Russia strategically in their political agenda from 1993. However, starting from 1997, the pro-Westernism in the foreign policies of Azerbaijan and Georgia increased, whereas Armenia remained in the Russian ;;influence zone”. Russia continued to apply pressure on Georgia and Azerbaijan. As a result, Georgia turned the focus of its foreign policy completely away from Russia, whereas Azerbaijan was successfully able to balance the West with its Russian focus. In this thesis the author, therefore, has attempted to shed light on the key factors that determined the foreign policy outcomes of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan and how they varied from each other, starting from 1993 until 2011.To find an answer to the above-mentioned question the author has investigated historically formed national identities and national interests of security and economy. It has been revealed that the effects of national identity were not the sole causes leading to the pursuit of pro/anti Russian politics. Thus, it has become evident that historically strengthened or weakened national identities were incapable to change the political orientations of politics in the Caucasus. Therefore, the author has analyzed both security and economic interests in order to determine the critical point that caused the SC states to pursue completely different foreign policies toward Russia. This study has researched Russian intervention in the following territorial disputes – Nagorno-Karabakh (NK), Abkhazia, and South Ossetia of SC. While intervening in territorial disputes, Russia aimed to drive the states into its political, economic and security spheres. Armenia has understood the strategic importance of Russia, pursuing pro-Russia politics through signing bilateral and unilateral treaties on security, politics, and economics with the Russian state. Armenia was, therefore, able to gain support from Russia in the NK dispute. Starting from 1993, the Western states’ hesitance to engage with the SC region, fearing it would worsen relations with Russia, caused the leaders of the SC states to reconsider security-related factors in regards to Russia-oriented policy. Azerbaijan, along with Georgia, understood that without pacifying Russia they will not be able to cooperate with the Western states and, therefore, strategically pursued pro-Russian policy while concomitantly seeking ways to cooperate with the West. This happened at the time the U.S. accepted a new foreign policy – promotion of democracy in the Greater Middle East. Strong American support on building a new pipeline that would bypass both Russia and Iran was aimed to lessen Azerbaijan and Georgia’s dependence on Russia. Azerbaijan and Georgia, through receiving implicit security assistance from the U.S., pursued an independent foreign policy from Russia. Despite this, the potential economic interests of Azerbaijan represented in oil and gas contracts between Azerbaijan and Russia, forced it to the realization that Russia’s geo-economic position made it an indispensible partner. As a result, Azerbaijan looked to rationally maneuver between the West and Russia, making oil and gas contracts with both sides when needed and thus making its national interests the priority.The author completed research for this thesis while keeping two tasks in mind. Firstly, he researched the region where the states pursue seemingly contrary political paths from each other. Lastly, he sought to re-consider the importance of identity and interests to elucidate this complexity. Keywords: The Southern Caucasus, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Russia, national identity, security interests, economic interests, foreign policy, Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, energy resources, oil politics Student Number: 2009-23819
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The Southern Caucasus Countries’ Policy toward Russia (1993-2011): reassessing identity and interests
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