Ethnicity, Nationalism and Conflict in the South Caucasus: Nagorno-Karabakh and the Legacy of Soviet Nationalities Policy

264 Pages·2012·1.458 MB·English

by  Ohannes Geukjian

Ethnicity, nationalism and conflict
in thE south caucasus
Post-soviet Politics
series Editor: neil Robinson, university of limerick, ireland
the last decade has seen rapid and fundamental change in the countries of the
former soviet union. although there has been considerable academic comment
on these changes over the years, detailed empirical and theoretical research on the
transformation of the post-soviet space is only just beginning to appear as new
paradigms are developed to explain change.
Post-Soviet Politics is a series focusing on the politics of change in the states
of the former ussR. the series publishes original work that blends theoretical
development with empirical research on post-soviet politics. the series includes
work that progresses comparative analysis of post-soviet politics, as well as case
study research on political change in individual post-soviet states. the series
features original research monographs, thematically strong edited collections and
specialized texts.
uniquely, this series brings together the complete spectrum of work on post-soviet
politics, providing a voice for academics world wide.
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Ethnicity, nationalism and
Conflict in the South Caucasus
nagorno-Karabakh and the legacy of
soviet nationalities Policy
ohannEs GEuKjian
American University of Beirut, Lebanon
© ohannes Geukjian 2012
all rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.
ohannes Geukjian has asserted his right under the copyright, designs and Patents act, 1988, to
be identified as the author of this work.
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Geukjian, ohannes.
Ethnicity, nationalism and conflict in the South Caucasus : Nagorno-Karabakh and the
legacy of soviet nationalities policy. – (Post-soviet politics) 1. caucasus, south—Ethnic
relations—history—20th century. 2. caucasus, south—Ethnic relations—Political aspects.
3. nationalism—caucasus, south. 4. armenians—Ethnic identity. 5. azerbaijanis—Ethnic
identity. 6. Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, 1988–1994. 7. Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan)—
Ethnic relations. 8. nationalism—soviet union. 9. soviet union—Politics and government.
i. title ii. series
305.8’0094752–dc22
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Geukjian, ohannes.
Ethnicity, nationalism and conflict in the South Caucasus : Nagorno-Karabakh and the legacy
of soviet nationalities policy / by ohannes Geukjian.
p. cm. — (Post-soviet politics)
includes bibliographical references and index.
isBn 978-1-4094-3630-0 (hbk. : alk. paper) – isBn 978-1-4094-3631-7 (ebook) 1. nagorno-
Karabakh Conflict, 1988–1994—History. 2. Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan)—Ethnic relations.
3. nationalism—azerbaijan--nagorno-Karabakh—history. 4. armenia (Republic)—Relations—
azerbaijan. 5. azerbaijan—Relations—armenia (Republic) i. title.
dK699.n34G4287 2011
947.5408’6–dc23
2011030394

isBn 9781409436300 (hbk)
isBn 9781409436317 (ebk)
IV
Printed and bound in Great Britain by
tj international ltd, Padstow, cornwall.
To my parents
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Contents
List of Abbreviations ix
Glossary of Terms xi
1 Introduction, Methodology and Structure 1
2 The Ethnic Past and Myths of Ethnogenesis in Transcaucasia 17
3 The Origins of the Conflict in the Later Russian Empire 37
4 The Impact of Soviet Structures and Policies 79
5 The Impact of the Soviet Nationalities Policy and the
Emergence of Dissident Nationalism in Transcaucasia 105
6 Ethnic Mobilization and the Emergence of the Karabakh
Movement (1985-9) 129
7 From Escalation to Open Warfare (1991-4) 185
Epilogue 207
Appendices 215
Bibliography 225
Index 239
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List of Abbreviations
ANC Armenian National Council
ANM Armenian National Movement
APF Azerbaijani Popular Front
AzCP Azerbaijani Communist Party
AzDR Azerbaijani Democratic Republic
AzSSR Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic
CC Central Committee
CCCP Central Committee of the Communist Party
CIS Commonwealth of Independent States
CPA Communist Party of Armenia
CPSU Communist Party of the Soviet Union
CSCE Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe
IDP Internally Displaced Persons
MVD Internal Ministry Forces
N-K Nagorno-Karabakh
NKAO Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast
NKAR Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region
NUP National Unity Party
OMON Azerbaijani Special Function Militia Troops
OSCE Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
RSFSR Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic
TSFSR Transcaucasian Federated Soviet Socialist Republic
UN United Nations
USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics