Summary
The Caucasian Republics examines the three republics of the Transcaucasus—Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia—which are situated in the area between Europe and Asia, extending from the Greater Caucasus to the Turkish and Iranian borders, between the Black and Caspian seas. Although small and isolated by mountain chains, the region's location at the crossroads between major world cultures has historically enhanced its importance as it served as a buffer zone between competing nations and a center of trade. Today, the region's oil and gas resources and its geopolitical importance have attracted the attention of both Western and Russian businesspeople. Western companies see the region as a bridge between Central Asia and the open seas, enabling them to avoid both Iran and Russia. For Russia, the region is both a gateway to the Middle East and a bulwark against Western or Turkish influences on its southern borders.
This richly informative volume is an ideal starting point for students and general readers interested in the countries and peoples of this region. A concise introduction to the current political and economic situation in the Caucasus area begins the work. Following is a section that explores the common history of the area up to the collapse of the Soviet Union. The second part of the book discusses the geography, history, government, economy, culture, religion, and daily life of each country with a strong focus on how the region has fared recently. Finally, a general assessment of the present problems and potential solutions for the future concludes this useful resource. Black-and-white photographs, two maps, a chronology, a bibliography, and an index are featured for reference value.
Specifications
25 black-and-white photographs and illustrations. 2 maps. Index. Bibliography. Chronology.
About the Author(s)
Margaret Kaeter has been a freelance writer for more than 10 years. She has written on a wide variety of subjects, including history, human behavior, politics, and geography. Her work has appeared in magazines such as New Woman, Entrepreneur, and Training and she has authored or coauthored several books, including the upcoming The Everything Network Marketing Book.
Introduction author Justin Burke received a bachelor’s degree in Soviet and Eastern European Studies from Boston University in 1986. He began his career in journalism in 1987 and since then has worked with The Associated Press and as a correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor. Burke was a visiting scholar at Harvard University’s Davis Center for Russian Research, has worked at the New York-based Open Society Institute, and is currently managing editor of EurasiaNet.