자카프카지예 지역은 北카프카즈와 더불어 다양한 언어와 민족의 전시장으로서 동양과 서양, 남반구과 북반구의 교차로였던 지리적 위치로 인해 주변 강대국들의 끊임없는 위협에 시달렸다. 초기 역사에서 주도권을 장악하던 페르시아인으로부터 그리스인, 로마인과 아랍인을 포함하여 터키인과 러시아인에 이르기까지 많은 민족들이 이 지역의 패권을 장악하기 위해 주도권 싸움을 벌였다. 오늘날에도 상황은 크게 변하지 않았다. 소련으로부터 독립한 이후 자카프카지예 국가들은 신흥 주권국가로서 내부적인 민족갈등을 해결하고, 주변강대국들과의 역학관계 속에서 자신들의 국가발전 전략을 추진해야 하는 이중고를 안고 있다. 더욱이 과거 인위적으로 설정된 자국의 영토 안에 이질적인 다양한 민족들이 혼재하고 있기 때문에, 지역갈등이라는 변수가 항상 표출될 수 있는 위험성을 안고 있으며, 결과적으로 이러한 위험의 폭발 개연성은 각각의 국가 정체성 형성에도 심각하게 위협이 되고 있다.

The Transcaucasus was the link between Europe and Asia. Here the cultures and traditions of the different peoples that inhabited the neighboring territories were combined in interesting and unusual ways. Through the Transcaucasus ran vital trade routes to the East. With its critical geographic location and its natural setting, the Transcaucasus naturally appealed to the great powers from ancient times. Arabs, Mongols, Persians, and later Turks and Russians strove to rule the region. As a result, the Transcaucasus has never had a peaceful existence. The history of the region is, that is to say, the history of conquests, wars, and ethnic conflicts. The Transcaucasus has in recent years been among the most explosive regions in the world. Were it to reignite, the effects could be dire. Yet the world takes comparatively little interest in this region Transcaucasus. Ethnic clashes have resulted in pogroms, the deaths of dozens of citizens, and the appearance of hundreds of thousands of refugees. The Transcaucasus therefore provides an ideal case study for testing the approach to ethnic conflict. There is only one alternative to this scenario. All territorial claims have to cease. The rights of ethnic minorities to the territories of the three existing countries of the Transcaucasus-Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia-must be respected and legally protected.

The Transcaucasus was the link between Europe and Asia. Here the cultures and traditions of the different peoples that inhabited the neighboring territories were combined in interesting and unusual ways. Through the Transcaucasus ran vital trade routes to the East. With its critical geographic location and its natural setting, the Transcaucasus naturally appealed to the great powers from ancient times. Arabs, Mongols, Persians, and later Turks and Russians strove to rule the region. As a result, the Transcaucasus has never had a peaceful existence. The history of the region is, that is to say, the history of conquests, wars, and ethnic conflicts. The Transcaucasus has in recent years been among the most explosive regions in the world. Were it to reignite, the effects could be dire. Yet the world takes comparatively little interest in this region Transcaucasus. Ethnic clashes have resulted in pogroms, the deaths of dozens of citizens, and the appearance of hundreds of thousands of refugees. The Transcaucasus therefore provides an ideal case study for testing the approach to ethnic conflict. There is only one alternative to this scenario. All territorial claims have to cease. The rights of ethnic minorities to the territories of the three existing countries of the Transcaucasus-Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia-must be respected and legally protected.

Transcaucasus/South Caucasus, Regional conflict, Post-soviet region, New Great Game