KAFKASYA’NIN SOVYETLEŞTİRİLMESİ VE TÜRKİYE-KAFKASYA İLİŞKİLERİ
SOVIETIZATION OF THE CAUCASUS AND THE RELATIONS OF TURKEY WITH THE CAUCASUS

Summary/Abstract: The Caucasus has always been a primary region with its geographical features and underground resources. The region, hosting important oil fields and grain regions as well as military road, has been the scene of power struggles continuously by both Russia and other great powers. The Caucasus has been of vital importance especially for Russia, so since the Tsarist period, the region has been tried to be conquered and a permanent dominance seek to be established. The geography of the region aggravated the invasions, also due to the same geographical structure, no unity could be formed against the Russian forces. In that, there are too many ethnic differences and the geographical structure of the region is an obstacle for unification. Occupying the Caucasus in the 19th century, Russia applied assimilation and Russification of the Caucasian peoples policy, in order to be permanent in the regions it seized. In addition to the military struggle within the framework of the Russification policy, Russia wanted to strengthen its dominance by performing especially in the fields of education, religion and culture. However, the Caucasian peoples did not adopt the Russian administration and culture and constantly struggled for independence. With the Bolshevik Revolution, the hopes of independence for the Caucasus blossomed and a short-term independence period was experienced. Though, the real intention of Russia was revealed very soon and Soviet Russia took over the region again. Thus, Russian pressures in the region re-emerged.

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