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.

Françoise Companjen is senior lecturer at the VU University Amsterdam and manager of Caucasus InterconnectLia Versteegh is lecturer in European law at the University of Amsterdam.László Marácz is lecturer in East European studies at the University of Amsterdam.

Table of contents - 6On the spelling, words and map in this book - 8Introduction - 121. Gábor Bálint de Szentkatolna (1844-1913) and the Study of Kabardian - 282. The Ethnic-Political Arrangement of the Peoples of the Caucasus - 483. An Island of Classical Arabic in the Caucasus: Dagestan - 644. Chechnya and Russia, between Revolt and Loyalty - 925. Recent Political History of the South Caucasus in the Context of Transition - 1126. Authoritarianism and Party Politics in the South Caucasus - 1367. Between State and Nation Building: The Debate about ‘Ethnicity’ in Georgian Citizens’ ID Cards - 1588. The War in South Ossetia, August 2008: Four Perspectives - 1829. The Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia: A New Era in International Law - 19610. Freedom of Speech in the Caucasus: Watch-dog Needed in Armenia and Azerbaijan - 21211. Beyond Frontiers: Engagement and Artistic Freedom in South Caucasus Modern Culture (Armenia and Azerbaijan) - 234List of Contributors - 254