Exploring the Caucasus in the 21st Century
Essays on Culture, History and Politics in a Dynamic Context
Francoise Companjen
László Marácz
Lia Versteegh
9789089641830
256 pages
Amsterdam University Press
Overview
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.
Author Bio
Françoise Companjen is senior lecturer at the VU University Amsterdam and manager of Caucasus Interconnect
László Marácz is lecturer in East European studies at the University of Amsterdam.
Lia Versteegh is lecturer in European law at the University of Amsterdam.
