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The South Caucasus

Analyzing economic, political, and security developments in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

Throughout history the South Caucasus has been a fault zone between East and West. It includes majority Christian Armenia and Georgia as well as majority Muslim Azerbaijan. These states themselves contain diverse populations, reflecting the Caucasus’ history as a frontier between Europe, Russia, Turkey, and Iran, all of which remain important actors in the region. The South Caucasus itself is also deeply fragmented and dotted with “frozen conflicts.” Armenia and Azerbaijan remain locked in struggle over Nagorno-Karabakh, while Georgia is faced with two breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, that are supported by Russia. This fragmentation has prevented the region from maximizing its potential as a transit corridor, despite the proliferation of energy pipelines, railways, and other infrastructure connecting it to neighbors to the East and West across the Caspian Sea and eastern Anatolia. The states of the South Caucasus would all like to deepen their engagement with multiple outside partners to bolster their security and prosperity, but face serious challenges closer to home. The CSIS Russia and Eurasia Program tracks developments in this complex and strategically important region to produce analysis that informs the global debate.

Featured

Critical Questions
The Air and Missile War in Nagorno-Karabakh: Lessons for the Future of Strike and Defense
By Shaan Shaikh, Wes Rumbaugh
December 8, 2020
On Demand Event
The Big Caucasus
April 2, 2012
On Demand Event
The Caucasus: A Changing Security Landscape
September 13, 2012

Russia and Eurasia Program

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Find Additional Content
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Contact H. Andrew Schwartz
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Tel: 202.775.3242

Contact Paige Montfort
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Tel: 202.775.3173
Related
Russia and Eurasia Program

Most Recent

Critical Questions
The Air and Missile War in Nagorno-Karabakh: Lessons for the Future of Strike and Defense
By Shaan Shaikh, Wes Rumbaugh
December 8, 2020
On Demand Event
Russia Abroad
February 22, 2019
On Demand Event
Wine, Society, and Geopolitics
November 13, 2018
On Demand Event
Centennial of the First Georgian Republic
May 9, 2018
On Demand Event
Armenia’s New Challenges: How Should the West Respond?
April 2, 2018
On Demand Event
Old and New Migration from the Russian Caucasus
March 29, 2018
Podcast Episode
Of Tensions in the South Caucasus – Russian Roulette Episode #29
By Jeffrey Mankoff
In Russian Roulette
May 5, 2017
Blog Post
Post-Communist Georgia Between Two Alternatives
In The Post-Soviet Post
February 1, 2017
View all content associated with this program

Experts

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Jeffrey Mankoff
Senior Associate (Non-Resident), Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program
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Media Queries
Contact H. Andrew Schwartz
Chief Communications Officer
Tel: 202.775.3242

Contact Paige Montfort
Media Relations Coordinator, External Relations
Tel: 202.775.3173

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