The Caucasus in a Time of Conflict, Demographic Transition, and Economic Change

Abstract

Abstract:In an introductory paper to a special issue of Eurasian Geography and Economics, the authors examine contemporary economic, social, demographic, and political developments in the Caucasus in light of their historical contexts. They emphasize the need to look beyond simple ethnic categories to understand the nature of local tensions and also propose that the profound nature of the post-Soviet upheavals has uprooted long-standing practices. The paper covers physical diversity, historical and administrative geopolitics, Stalinist deportations in the 1940s, and post-Soviet demographic and economic developments. An introduction to each of the five papers comprising the special issue follows the regional overview. ulti-ethnic regions offer social scientists special opportunities to study the interplay of global and local processes and, in particular, to follow the evolution of complicated territorial identities. Multi-ethnic regions often play important and even determining roles in shaping contemporary geopolitical positionings of the respective states. While possessing rich and diverse natural and cultural heritages, multi-ethnic regions frequently are the foci of sharp conflicts, with repercussions far beyond their borders. But an ethnic mosaic with a "world as exhibit" view tends to freeze ethnicity into categories while ignoring what is really significant, namely, a history of institutionalization that gives rise to organizational expression and systems of political patronage. The Caucasus at the beginning of the 21 st century offers a powerful example of these themes. The authors would like to thank the National Science Foundation (grant no. 0433927) and the Committee for Exploration and Research of the National Geographic Society (John O'Loughlin, PI on both grants) for the financial support that made this research and field work in the North Caucasus possible. Translation and editing of the text was by John O'Loughlin and Ted Holland and helpful comments were received from Gearóid Ó Tuathail. Thanks to Alexander Panin and Vitaliy Belozerov of Stavropol' State University for the collection of data and field assistance; to our Dagestani colleagues, Eldar Eldarov, Shakhmardan Muduyev, Sharafudin Aliyev, and Zagir Atayev for their overwhelming hospitality; to our Russian and Croatian field partners Olga Vendina and Mladen Klemencic, for their friendly and scholarly field comradeship; to Gearóid Ó Tuathail and Mike Ward, especially, for their collegiality and cooperation from the beginning of the project; and to all our survey respondents and the friendly people of the North Caucasus for their generous responses and help in our research. Nancy Thorwardson cast her minacious editorial "cold eye" on the penultimate drafts and page proofs of this and the other papers in the special issue. Journal of Economic

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