History and Government Faculty Publications
Sovereignty Issues in the Caucasus: Contested Ethnic and National Identities in Chechnya, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2016
Journal Title
Sprawy Narodowościowe (Issues of Nationality)
Volume
48
First Page
30
Last Page
47
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.11649/sn.2016.003
Abstract
The issue of sovereignty has been at the forefront of regional politics in the Caucasus since the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. In particular, the Russian government has approached various—seemingly similar cases—in very different ways. Although each specific region examined—Chechnya, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia—is unique, the nature of ethnic and national identity has been framed differently by the Russian government. In Chechnya, the Putin administration has framed any outstanding separatist claims in conjunction with terrorism and national security issues. In Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the Putin administration has instead noted the need for “liberation.” The outcome has been to stifle secessionist desires in Chechnya, while supporting those same secessionist desires outside of Russia’s borders, in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Keywords
Chechnya, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, secession, terrorism
Recommended Citation
Rukhadze, Vasili and Duerr, Glen M.E., "Sovereignty Issues in the Caucasus: Contested Ethnic and National Identities in Chechnya, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia" (2016). History and Government Faculty Publications. 195.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/history_and_government_publications/195
