Thesis (Ph.D.)--Georgetown University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

The aim of this thesis is to study complex nature of the Azerbaijani Foreign policy and to analyze relations of Azerbaijan with other countries in regional and global context in order to determine which countries are more prioritized. The author concluded that the balanced Foreign policy is no longer pursued and its orientation is now changed towards West. The study had also determined the reasons behind the Western orientation. Thesis concluded that Azerbaijan pursues economic integration with the West as well as sustains political dominance in the South Caucasus region.

This study seeks to examine and assess the effectiveness of the Eastern Partnership Policy (EaP) of the European Union. Beside introduction of positive novelties of the Eastern Partnership, this paper gives a premium attention to scrutinize the possible limitations and shortfalls of EaP. Hence, the study aims to analyze some internal and external factors that complicate the effective functioning of the EaP. The inconsistency of the EU policy structure, the role of Russia and its Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU) in EAP, the ambivalent policy of some Member States (Germany and Italy are examined) toward the EaP, unconsidered discrepancy of eastern partners are analyzed and considered as prime reasons of ineffectiveness. In addition, examined case studies of Ukraine and Azerbaijan reveal that the EU's commitment to their "shared values" are controversial. This paper presents that the EU should find a balance between its economic/energy interests and normative values vis-a-vis Eastern Partners in order to fill the gap between its goals and achievements.

Thesis (doctoral)--Leopold-Franzens Universität Innsbruck, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 230-251).

The thesis presents geopolitical situation of South Caucasus region in relation to Europe, with focus on the European Union. Specific geopolitical conditions of the South Caucasus led from the emergence of independent states in this area to so called "new great game" of interests of global powers. The relationship of the European Union to the South Caucasus developed in the time and in the thesis is presented on the background of this "game". The armed conflict of Georgia and Russia from August 2008 was a radical event in many aspects. And the European Union played one of the most important roles in it. With regard to a quite limited character of previous cooperation, this was a challenge for change in the European approach to the region. The goal of the thesis is whether the European Union managed to orient itself in the new geopolitical conditions of the region and succeeded to take advantage of such a possibility.

The main aim of the given thesis is to investigate the impact of gender-based stereotypes and public opinion on intimate partner violence in the South Caucasus and offer the reader recommendations to change the existing alarming situation. As a theoretical background of the study, Patriarchy theory and General Systems theory will be used based on which the influences of stereotypes on the intimate partner violence in the region will be explained. While following study covers 3 countries, the cross-cultural comparison and content analysis will be used as methodological tools. The findings show that in three of the countries -Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia traditional gender-based attitudes shape the main behavioral patterns of perpetrators and victims. The intervention of western European states and increasing public awareness seems to be the most appropriate solution of the existing situation.

Pavel Makovský: Geopolitical aspects of transport interconnections development in the Southern Caucasus Abstract This study solves transport interconnection in the South Caucasus region with a focus on four modes of transport - air, rail, road and pipeline. The research covers regional cooperation and cross-border involvement of other states and international organizations. Literature and data research from statistical office of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia sites, which I analyzed and confronted with the liberal theory of functionalism (neofunctionalism) and the opposite theory of realism (neorealism), was conducted. The result is an interdependence analysis evaluated at two ranks (regional and cross-border). It is followed by the applicability and summary of all political actors acting on the basis of liberal or realistic thinking. On the basis of the work there is possibility to build on research in the region of Central Asia. Keywords: South Caucasus; transport interconnection; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Georgia; geopolitics

This thesis deals with the South Ossetian- Georgian conflict and its internationalization especially since the Rose revolution in Georgia in 2003. The main objective of the thesis is to examine the changes in the rivalry between Russia and the United States over the Caucasus and their effects on the relations between Georgia and the South Ossetia. The thesis argues that the development of the conflict between Georgia and the South Ossetia has been shaped by the changes in the level of involvement by Russia and the United States rather than the bilateral relations between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali. Thus, international and systematic factors are more determining than local dynamics of this conflict. The thesis has six chapters, including the introduction and conclusion chapters. After the introduction, the second chapter examines the ethnic origins of the Ossetians and the Georgians as well as historical background of their relations. The third chapter analyzes the sources of the conflict and the 1991-1992 war between Georgia and the South Ossetia. The fourth chapter discusses the 2003 Rose revolution in Georgia and its affects on Georgia&rsquo / s relations with the Western powers, namely the United States and the European Union. The fifth chapter examines the worsening relations between Russia and Georgia after the Rose revolution as well as the Russian-Georgian War in 2008 with its international consequences.

Disertacijoje nagrinėjamas diplomatijos vaidmuo Pietų Kaukazo valstybių saugumo politikoje, pasitelkiant geopolitinių kodų metodą ir regioninio saugumo komplekso teoriją. Sudėtinis teorinis analizės modelis yra grindžiamas neorealistine tarptautinių santykių samprata, o diplomatijos analizėje naudojama racionalistinė tarptautinių santykių paradigma. Tyrimas apima laikotarpį nuo Pietų Kaukazo valstybių nepriklausomybės atgavimo devintojo dešimtmečio pradžioje iki 2008 m. vėlyvo pavasario. Pietų Kaukazo valstybių geopolitinių kodų studija yra pirmasis tokio pobūdžio bandymas identifikuoti Armėnijos, Azerbaidžano ir Gruzijos geopolitinius savitumus ir individualios bei regioninės geostrateginės raidos galimybes. Tyrimas pateikia naują požiūrį į Pietų Kaukazo regioninio saugumo komplekso egzistavimą, taip revizuodamas ankstesnius tyrimus. Disertacijoje atskleista Pietų Kaukazo valstybių diplomatijų, apibrėžtų geopolitinių kodų ir identifikuoto regioninis saugumo komplekso tarpusavio priklausomybė. Taip pat išanalizuota šiuolaikinė tarptautinė sistema ir, didelę įtaką Pietų Kaukazui turintys, transatlantinių santykių principai. Išvadose, tarp kitų įžvalgų, pažymima, kad pagrindinė diplomatijos reikšmė yra komunikacijos tarp regiono politinių lyderių palaikymas ir trinties mažinimas, taip sulaikant valstybes nuo įšaldytų konfliktų sprendimo jėga. / The dissertation, based on the method of geopolitical sketches and the theory of regional security complex, provides with assessment of the role of diplomacy in security policy of the South Caucasus states. Neorealist approach to international relations, fallowed by rationalist paradigm used for analysis of diplomacy, determines the background of theoretical model of analysis. The research is based on the timeframe from early independence of regional states in the last decade of the twentieth century till late spring of 2008. The study of South Caucasus geopolitical sketches is the first attempt, of such kind, to identify geopolitical peculiarities and options for development of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The study provides with new approach to the existence of the regional security complex in the South Caucasus and consequently reassesses the studies conducted earlier. Dissertation discovers the interdependence among diplomacies of the South Caucasus states, defined geopolitical sketches and identified regional security complex. Contemporary international system and principles of transatlantic relations, bearing considerable impact on the South Caucasus, were analyzed as well. Among other insights listed in conclusions, it was envisaged that the main tangible role of diplomacy is to maintain communication of political leaders and minimize frictions between states preventing settling of frozen conflicts by coercive measures.

This thesis analyses the developments in the South Caucasus region since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The disintegration brought about the decleration of independence from teh states in the region, namely Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia. However, the conflicts in the aftermath of independence drawing the region into instability brought about the question of whether the instability in the region is an end result of teh policies of regional actors in the region. Whether teh stability in the South Caucasus is directly bound to teh constructive policies of the main actors? Whether actors act as stability providers or instability exploiters in the region? Are the actors especially since 9/11 Russia and the United States while expressing intentions on regional stability, with their differing interests acts as instability exploiters? In fact, these questions stems from the dilemma of discourse and commitment.