The purpose of this research is to address how geopolitical factors influence the foreign policies of states in the South Caucasus. Due to the recent Russia-Georgia War, this region is central to contemporary foreign policy, fueling discussions of a New Cold War between the US and Russia. With the explicit goal to provide policy relevant research on this critical region, the South Caucasus states (Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia) are examined in three separate case studies. Utilizing qualitative analysis of historical event data, each case examines the role of five different variables: energy resources, routes, demography, proximity, and state leadership. That research reveals several corollary relationships. First, demographic (ethnic/religious) cleavages are found to define the borders of separatist conflicts and to be positively correlated with state perceptions of threat that follow from the proximity of foreign powers to separatist regions. Energy resources and routes define economic conflict and are positively correlated with perceptions of threat resulting from the proximity of foreign powers to these strategic points. Finally, state leadership is correlated with the value placed on demographic groups, resources, and routes in the foreign policies of the South Caucasus states and the subsequent balance of threat behavior exhibited in each state's foreign policy orientation. These findings are consequential for the discipline of International Relations, demonstrating the contemporary relevance of geopolitical variables. Specifically, the synthesis of these variables provides significant explanations of where, with whom, and why conflicts have emerged in the South Caucasus. Answering those questions is a vital step toward furthering the relevance of academic research for policy makers.

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Availability of suitable nesting habitat that is free of nest predators and provides access to adequate prey resources within commuting distance is a major factor limiting seabird populations. Caspian terns (Hydroprogne caspia) in western North America have shifted their breeding habitat from naturally occurring habitats in interior wetlands, lakes, and rivers to primarily human-created habitats in coastal bays and estuaries. This shift has brought Caspian terns into conflict with fisheries of conservation concern, in particular anadromous salmonids. Prior to the 2010 breeding season, three artificial islands were built in the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex as alternative nesting habitat for Caspian terns currently nesting at the world's largest colony for the species, near the mouth of the Columbia River, Oregon. I investigated the efficacy of habitat creation (island building) and social attraction (decoys and recorded vocalizations) for establishing new breeding colonies in the Upper Klamath Basin, California. In 2010, approximately 258 pairs of Caspian terns attempted to nest on the new islands and raised an average of 0.65 fledglings/breeding pair; in 2011, 222 pairs attempted to nest and raised an average of 0.11 fledglings/breeding pair. Competition with California and ring-billed gulls (Larus californicus and L. delawarensis) for nesting space, gull predation on Caspian tern eggs and chicks, low water levels, and depredation by great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) were the primary factors limiting colony development and productivity, especially in 2011. The immediate response by Caspian terns to habitat creation and social attraction in the Upper Klamath Basin demonstrates that these can be effective restoration techniques to establish new breeding colonies where nesting habitat is a major limiting factor; however, continued management of other limiting factors (e.g., control of on-colony predators and competitors) will likely be necessary to promote the development of established, self-sustaining breeding colonies on these artificial islands. Efforts to conserve and restore seabird colonies can be compromised by low prey availability within foraging distance of the breeding colony. I used GPS telemetry to study the fine-scale foraging behavior of Caspian terns nesting at two newly established colonies and cluster analysis to discriminate behavioral states based on movement characteristics. Terns breeding at the Sheepy Lake colony spent less time at the colony (52% of the day) than terns breeding at the Tule Lake colony (74%). Caspian terns breeding at Sheepy Lake foraged more extensively than terns breeding at Tule Lake; the foraging trips of Sheepy Lake terns lasted longer (median = 186 min) and were longer-distance (27 km) compared to those of Tule Lake terns (55 min and 6 km, respectively). Between-colony differences in foraging behavior corresponded to 5% lower average body mass of breeding adults and significantly lower size-adjusted body mass of chicks at the Sheepy Lake colony compared to the Tule Lake colony. Proximity to high-quality foraging areas influenced the foraging behavior and parental care of breeding Caspian terns, which in turn had effects on nesting success. The successful use of GPS telemetry to study the fine-scale foraging behavior of Caspian terns represents a significant advance in our ability to investigate the foraging ecology of this species and other moderate-sized seabirds. / Graduation date: 2013

This thesis aims to analyze the Turkish policy of being an energy hub. Within this context Turkey, as it is geographically very close to the two thirds of the world&#039 / s proven oil and natural gas reserves, has a very big advantage to manage its location and the purpose of this study is to discuss the measures taken to utilize this advantage. Therefore relative weakness of Turkey in comparison to the other actors like Russia, the USA or the EU and the strengths of the Turkish policy like the geopolitical advantage, the ethnic link between Turkey and the newly independent states of the Caspian and the already existing infrastructure for the transportation of oil and natural gas like Kirkuk-Yumurtalik Pipeline, Baku Tblisi Ceyhan Oil Pipeline, Ceyhan Terminal, and Baku Tblisi Erzurum Natural Gas Pipeline are discussed. With this respect, this study argues that, as a result of the existing and planned projects, Ceyhan&#039 / s claim to become a hub is a realistic objective and in addition to BTC and Kirkuk-Yumurtalik Pipeline, the realization of Samsun-Ceyhan Pipeline will increase Ceyhan&#039 / s potential as an energy hub.

The Caspian region hydrocarbons are important for international energy security. Producer, consumer and transit countries, albeit for different reasons, try to get a share of these new resources. The opening up of the Region has presented Turkey with a new set of opportunities. In this thesis the positions of all the countries involved are examined. Special attention is given to Turkish policies towards the region. In conclusion the geopolitical environment emerged around the hydrocarbon resources and pipelines is evaluated. It will be seen that this environment puts Turkey in a very favorable position and Turkey is now a player in the international energy game despie the fact that it has almost no hydrocarbon resources.

This thesis analyzes the political economy of oil in the post-Soviet Kazakhstan. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan, which is one of the newly independent states of the former Soviet geography, became very popular in the international arena with its hydrocarbon riches. There have been discussions in the scholarly and international political agendas that the country will suffer from the so called &ldquo / curse&rdquo / that is associated with the producing states. This dissertation looks at the political, economic and social dynamics associated with the post-Soviet environment in Kazakhstan and the impact of oil revenues on each one of those domains. It discusses Kazakhstan&rsquo / s political economy by engaging three relevant literatures on the issue. To this end first it is argued that the rentier state model which has been developed based on the experiences of other oil producing states is useful to understand the political economy of post-Soviet Kazakhstan, however it fails to explain its dynamics fully. Therefore, the dissertation engages with post-Soviet transformation as well as critical geopolitics literatures to overcome some of the gaps in the rentier state model. It has been argued that while analyzing the political economy of oil in Kazakhstan it is possible to identify three major trends with regard to the impact of oil revenues on the post-Soviet environment. The first one of those post Soviet trends is the consolidation of pre-existing institutions and structures. Second one is the restructuring of pre-existing institutions and third one is the creation of new institutions that was not present during the Soviet environment.

Caspian region&#039 / s hydrocarbon deposits constitute one of the significant reserves in the world. This has caused a competition among state and non-state actors in exploiting these resources since 19th century. After the Soviet demise, the newly independent states embraced the economic gains made possible with the existence of these reserves. However oil production may have negative implications on environment, ecological balance and biodiversity if carried out in an uncontrolled manner. This study aims to identify these negative impacts and measures taken to control this process. Measures taken on national, regional and international levels are analyzed to find out the extent of their effectiveness in protecting the environment during oil operations. National legal frameworks of each littoral state, impacts of civil society organizations, regional and international legal frameworks and efforts of international organizations are evaluated. Since most of these improvements are relatively new with no viable outcome at hand, the process rather than the results is focused on. The application of time, holism and action-orientation parameters to these improvements to find out the environmental effectiveness of each shows that there is a preliminary burgeoning awareness in matters of environmental protection yielding to more effective efforts than before. Yet the economic gains remain too significant a temptation for the states in the region to be sacrificed. In the cases where measures taken to protect the environment undermine these economic gains, environmental effectiveness is forsaken.

Interpretation of 900 km of a closely spaced grid of high-resolution seismic profiles over the northwestern margin of South Caspian Basin (SCB) allows recognition and study of six late Pleistocene - Holocene depositional sequences. Sequence stratigraphy analysis of sedimentary strata from 117,000 years B.P. to present led to the identification of a highstand systems tract, two transgressive systems tracts and six lowstand systems tracts. Each systems tract is characterized by specific seismic facies. Diverse depositional processes on the northwestern margin of the SCB are suggested by the thirteen seismic facies patterns recognized in the study area. Two distinct progradational complexes were interpreted within Sequence III and Sequences IV and V in the northeastern and northwestern parts of the study area, respectively. Stratigraphic interpretation of the sequences provided important information on parameters that control depositional architectures, such as lake level fluctuations, tectonic dynamics, and sediment supply. High sedimentation rates combined with a series of high-frequency and high-amplitude lake-level fluctuations, abrupt changes at the shelf edge, abnormally high formation pressure, and high tectonic activity during Quaternary time resulted in the development of a variety of complex geologic drilling hazards. I distinguished three types of hazards as a result of this study: mud volcanoes, sediment instability, and shallow gas. The 2D high-resolution seismic dataset from the northwestern margin of the SCB allowed more detailed seismic sequence stratigraphic analysis in the study area than has previously been attempted. In particular, it has a clear application in deciphering sediment supply and relative lake level changes as well as tectonic relationship of the northwestern shelf margin of the SCB. Results of this work led us towards better understanding of recent depositional history, improved our knowledge of the nature of the basin tectonics, climate history and styles of and controls on sedimentation processes within a sequence stratigraphic framework during the late Pleistocene-Holocene time.

After the Soviet dissolution, the newly independent post-Soviet state of Azerbaijan intensified its efforts at developing its relations with the United States. Based on the analysis of the Azerbaijan&ndash / U.S. relations between1991-2006, the thesis tries to answer which factors could account for the existing political problems between these countries, given that both countries have a common interest in deepening their cooperation concerning the Caspian energy resources as well as the fight against international terrorism. This thesis argues that although both countries have many interests in common, they are unable to deepen their level of cooperation because of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem which, since it breaches the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, is that state&rsquo / s main priority. The thesis has four main chapters: after a general overview of the evolution of Azerbaijan&rsquo / s foreign policy in the post-Soviet era and the U.S. policies towards the Caucasus, I examine Azerbaijan&rsquo / s cooperation with the U.S. in the field of energy, the Nagorno-Karabakh problem in Azerbaijan&rsquo / s relations with the U.S., and Azerbaijan&rsquo / s cooperation with the U.S. in the fight against international terrorism. In this thesis I focus on these three interests of Azerbaijan in its relations with the U.S. because in analyzing this country&rsquo / s foreign policy these are vital issues that include economic development, territorial integrity and its global political role concerning security.

本文旨在透過地緣政治途徑研究□海地區因石油資源豐富而興起的爭霸戰，以瞭解□海沿岸五國（俄羅斯、伊朗、哈薩克斯坦、土庫曼斯坦、阿塞拜然）與其他非□海沿岸國家為取得資源而有的開發、運輸、國際秩序等問題。本論文將探討1992至2000年間，□海地區的石油資源爭霸戰。 本論文認為：蘇聯解體後，□海地區成為國際政治互動的熱點；□海地區豐富的石油資源不僅極具經濟價值，□海地區的地緣地位更具戰略價值；因此，□海地區的石油爭霸戰之所以越演越烈、越形複雜，乃是因為它牽動了該地區的國際政治勢力消長問題：從而可以斷言，□海地區石油爭霸戰的動因乃是該地區的地緣戰略利益以及石油資源經濟利益，而其爭執的主要關鍵問題在於□海的歸屬權以及運輸油管的建造。此一假設命題可再引伸為下列邏輯相關子命題： （一）蘇聯解體後，□海地區成為國際政治互動熱點。 （二）□海地區豐富的石油資源不僅極具經濟價值，□海地區的地緣地位更具戰略價值；因此，□海地區的石油爭霸戰牽動了該地區的國際政治勢力消長問題，而使該地區的情勢更形複雜。 （三）□海地區的石油爭霸戰的動因乃是該地區的地緣戰略利益以及石油資源經濟利益，因而牽動的不僅是□海地區的國家，連若干非□海地區的強權或組織－美國、中國、北約也涉入其中。 （四）各國在□海地區爭執的關鍵問題有二：一為□海的歸屬權爭議；另一則為油管管線運輸問題。 上述四命題構成本文核心論點；而對應此四個論點，本論文將分六章探討。第一章為緒論，說明研究動機與目的、假設命題與研究架構、文獻述評與研究途徑。第二章：□海地區霸權爭霸戰。本章將探討俄國、美國、伊朗、土耳其、中國等在此區相互爭戰的情形。第三章：□海的歸屬權爭議。此章將探討目前□海歸屬權的爭議。第四章：油管管線運輸問題。本章將介紹目前現有的油管以及籌畫中的油管路線。第五章：結論。總結整個論文之重點及研究之結果。 / The purpose of this research project has been to study with the use of geopolitics way to understand the dispute of oil of development, carriage and international order problems in the Caspian Sea Region（including Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan）. The proposition of this thesis is that after the decomposition of Soviet Union, the Caspian becomes international political focus. The rich oil reserves is not only involving economical interest, the geopolitical location of the Caspian Sea Region is but also engaging these states in strategical advantage. Accordingly, the dispute of oil in the Caspian Sea Region is getting more and more serious because of the changing of international politics force. And the major problems are the right of the Caspian Sea and the oil pipelines of construction. The proposition comprises the contention of this paper, and it will be discussed in six chapters. The first chapter is exordium. The second chapter is the haggle in the Caspian Sea Region. The third chapter is the dispute of the right of the Caspian Sea. The fourth chapter is the construction of the oil pipelines. And the last chapter is the conclusion.