Georgia Transcaucasus and Beyond

Authors : Gela Charkviani

Pages : 87-95

Doi:10.1501/Intrel_0000000149

View : 9 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 1994-05-01

Article Type : Research

Abstract :It is common knovvledge that diversity is spice of life. No one can deny, however, that the same diversity can and does in a way encourage the cmergence of conflicting interests. If this is true, and I tend to believe that it is, the Caucasus must be one of the most conflict-prone areas in the world, since hardly anyvvhere else on the planet can one find a territory of a comparable size as heterogeneous in terms of language, religion and culture.1 The Caucasus has över the centuries dravvn attention and attracted unremitıing interest of majör powers. Their encroachments and incessant meddling, that often resulted in pitting peoples, tribes and feudal lords one against the other, added to the locally generated vvoes, and by the 17th and 18th centuries life in the area turned into a virtual nightmare. Invasions, forccd deportations, mass killings, devastating raids by the mountain tribesmen, abduetions, slave trade and looting became routine. 
Keywords : Georgia Transcaucasus, Beyond, The Caucasus