THE AUGUST 2008 RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN CONFLICT AND ITS IMPLICATIONS: A NEW ERA IN THE CAUCASUS?
THE AUGUST 2008 RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN CONFLICT AND ITS IMPLICATIONS: A NEW ERA IN THE CAUCASUS?

Summary/Abstract: After demise of Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, regional conflicts have emerged in the former Soviet territories. Indeed, these conflicts did not caused a dramatic shift in the bilateral relations of major powers. Nevertheless, the Kosovo crisis may be regarded as a milestone for change. Independence declaration of Kosovo deteriorated the relations among Russia and the West. The Russian-Georgian conflict in August 2008 created a big rift in Russia’s relations with the West. This article aims to focus on the consequences of the conflict and attempts to spell out the causes. One of the significant finding of the article is the damaged image of Russian image in West. As a consequence, European powers and the US will more eager to by-pass Russia via the energy projects. The Russian-Georgian conflict also revealed the need for a new strategic initiative regarding the region. Besides, Black Sea and the Caucasus region became more important in strategic terms. These latest developments brought the phrase of “Back to the Cold War” referring to the political atmosphere of the region.

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