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Exploring the Caucasus in the 21st Century: Essays on Culture, History and Politics in a Dynamic Context

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Françoise Companjen, Laszlo Karoly Maracz, Lia Versteegh
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Amsterdam University Press, 2010 - History - 254 pages
Annotation Although the name Caucasus has been around for some 2000 years, and may suggest unity and coherence, the region these days is best known for the ethnic and religious divides resulting in recurrent bloody conflicts between the various minorities and the post-Soviet independent states. Geographically, the Caucasus has traditionally been a buffer between Russia, Turkey and Iran. Part Russian Federation, part Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, the area has a tradition of fast-shifting partnerships, of rich and varied cultural heritage, and fierce ethnic tensions going back centuries. This fascinating volume creates an illuminating perspective on the politics, history and culture of the Caucasus: it includes an account of how several 19th century Hungarian linguists fascinated by the region's famously difficult languages conducted field research still used by politicians to prove or disprove ethnic links ; an analysis of the recurring forcible movements of the people; a study of the region's Russian Imperial past; an exploration of the Muslim North/Christian South division in the context of the recent conflicts and their international ramifications; the elite-driven nature of the region's politics; finally, the role of art as a medium of freedom in the war-torn zones of the region. Necessary reading for everyone with an interest in the history of one of the world's tinderboxes. This title can be previewed in Google Books - http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9789089641830.
  

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Contents

On the spelling words and map in this book
7
Introduction
11
1 Gábor Bálint de Szentkatolna 18441913 and the Study of Kabardian
27
2 The EthnicPolitical Arrangement of the Peoples of the Caucasus
47
Dagestan
63
4 Chechnya and Russia between Revolt and Loyalty
91
5 Recent Political History of the South Caucasus in the Context of Transition
111
6 Authoritarianism and Party Politics in the South Caucasus
135
The Debate about Ethnicity in Georgian Citizens ID Cards
157
Four Perspectives
181
A New Era in International Law
195
Watchdog Needed in Armenia and Azerbaijan
211
Engagement and Artistic Freedom in South Caucasus Modern Culture Armenia and Azerbaijan
233
List of Contributors
253
Copyright

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About the author (2010)

Françoise Companjen is a senior lecturer at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and manager of Caucasus Interconnect. László Marácz is a lecturer in Eastern European studies at the University of Amsterdam. Lia Versteegh is a lecturer in European law at the University of Amsterdam.

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