Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Fahimeh Khansarifard ¹
• Mohammad Ali Basiri ²
• Enayatollah Yazdani ³

¹ PhD Candidate, International Relations, University of Isfahan

² Associate Professor, Political Sciences, University of Isfahan

³ Associate Professor, Political sciences, University of Isfahan

Abstract

South Caucasus is one of the most important regions in studying separatism phenomenon. The significant factor in scrutinizing separatism movements in South Caucasus is that although there have been many separatism inclinations during post – soviet years, but not all of them have been successful and from this perspective, there are significant differences among them. In order to scrutinize the causes of the mentioned issue, the theory of ethnic bargaining is used to assess separatism in the framework of reciprocal relations of ethnic groups, host state and lobby state and the access of ethnic groups to bargaining instruments. Therefore the present article addresses the following question: Why some of ethnic groups have been more successful in gaining political independence? What have been the causes of success or failure of the ethnic groups in their separatism process? In order to answer the above – mentioned question, the following hypothesis is delivered: The more ethnic groups possess instruments for bargaining with the central government, the more assets they gain, the more radicalized become their requirements. Possessing two important factors and territorial containment and foreign protection, the ethnic groups would lead towards separatism even using violence.
Using explanatory – analyzing method and referring to library and governmental and international documentary resources, the authors attempt to provide the hypothetical answer to the mentioned question.

Keywords

• separatism
• ethnic bargaining
• Lobby State
• South Caucasus
• territorial containment