THE NORTH CAUCASUS–SPECIFIC TENSION FACTORS IN THE REGION

By Igor Rotar

(This paper was given by the author at the international conference of Caucasus specialists in Tbilisi, organized by the President of Georgia’s State Bureau for CIS Studies, with the financial support of IREX.)

The North Caucasus is one of the world’s most conflict-ridden regions, at least in post-Soviet space. Today it is the only region of Russia which has already seen several armed confrontations (in both North Ossetia and Dagestan). In the near future, unfortunately, there is a relatively high chance of fresh local clashes. The explanation: In addition to the tension factors characteristic of the entire Commonwealth of Independent States, these regions have specific features which increase the probability of open conflicts. This paper will examine the factors which are catalysts for instability in the region. The most important of these:

— arbitrary borders between north Caucasian republics,