The Position of Caucasus Geoplitics in Politics of Regional and Supra-regional Powers

Subject Areas :

Gholamhossein Heydari ¹

1 - ([e-mail]) . استادیار و عضو هیأت علمی دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد رودهن

Received: 2011-05-05 Accepted : 2011-08-20 Published : 2011-12-01

Keywords: Geopolitics, Energy, Caucasus, regional powers, supra,

Abstract :

Cacusus region due to its strategic location being on the crossroad of east، west، north and south and locating between strategic heartland and rimland besides being in the neighbouring of Russia is having great importance. On the other hand، discovery of vast energy resources has attracted great powers attention to this region. The present article by a descriptive-analytical method wants to examine the political and economic development of Caucasus region after the end of Cold War. What impact does the geopolitical location of Caucasus region is having on the foreign policy of the countries of the region and the foreign policies of regional and supra-regional countries? The underlying hypothesis is that the discovery of energy sources in the Caucasus region and the importance of heartland and rimland region have led to the presence of new power and new games. Overall، it can be said that due to the presence of regional and supra-regional powers the Caucasus region is undergoing deep changes and development. The result of these development are: improvemnet of economic conditions، weakening of its political independence، increase of the importance of the region due to discovery of energy sources، economic growth due to attraction of foreign investment and reduction of ethnic and regional conflicts