Ethno political conflict in the Transcaucasus. (c2004)

Abstract

The world has witnessed in the past few years, a tremendous increase in ethnic conflict, mostly located in the third world. Since this study aims at understanding ethnic conflict, it becomes important to take a look at the dramatic tensions that took place within the IUSSR between the Armenians and the Azeris that got involved in a conflict over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. In an attempt to realize this objective, a historical review of crucial events as well as geopolitical factors that intensified the conflict will be taken into consideration; for further study. Moreover, the attitudes of the Great and regional powers( Tnrkey, U.S, Iran and Russia) as well as the role of major international organizations (the U.N, the OSeE) will be surveyed, including the interests of Armenia, Azerbaijan role and perspective vis-a- vis the conflict. In support of what has been stated and what I will attempt to examine throughout this study, the Armenian- zerbaijan case study will help us understand: why people(ethno-political) fight and how does the world community contain those rebellions. To find an answer to those questions, precise analysis will be granted to the available methods that promise a solution to those brutal conflicts. Those methods vary from ignoring the conflict and its basic causes to taking measures in regards to the conflict in order to solve the case. The latter approach was used in this case study; therefore, a careful consideration will be offered in this case study about third party intervention, their roles as well as to the outcome of their negotiations. Finally, this study will revise whether the behavior of the rebellious parties (Armenians and Azeris) who have struggled for autonomy, causes a breach to the regional and international norms of self-determination. In brief, those are the questions that I will be studying throughout this study while having in mind that this case-study presents an internal-regional conflict that called for the interference of major super-powers because they further discovered that natural resources in Azerbaijan could be endangered. It's then that the U.S., among other nations, participated into trying to solve the conflict that endangered the lives of civilians and military personnel.