Common Identity as the Missing Element in the Construction of Regionalism in the South Caucasus [Güney Kafkasya’da Bölgeciliğin Kurulmasında Eksik Unsur Olan Ortak Kimliğin Tahlili]

Güney Kafkasya’nın bir bölge olarak varlığı görece tartışmalı bir konudur. Coğrafi yakınlıklarına ve ortak tarihi ve kültürel geçmişlerine rağmen bölgenin üç ülkesi (Ermenistan, Azerbaycan, Gürcistan) kendilerini bölgesel bir “Güney Kafkasya” kimliğinin parçası olarak görmemekte; ortak sorunlara bölgesel çözüm arayışına girmemekte veya iki taraflı ilişkilere ek olarak bölgesel ekonomik işbirliği geliştirme girişiminde bulunmamaktadırlar. 20. yy boyunca birçok entegrasyon projesi yaratma denemeleri olmuşsa da tümü tarihsel kökenli derin husumetler, tepeden inme entegrasyon projelerinin yetersizliği ve bölge devletlerinin 1918-1920 yılları arasındaki bağımsızlık dönemlerinde, Sovyet döneminde veya günümüzdeki farklı tehdit algılamaları nedeniyle başarısız olmuştur. Bu makale Güney Kafkasya’da entegrasyonun başarısızlığının ana nedeni olarak ortak kimlik eksikliğinin ne ölçüde etkili olduğunu ve yakın gelecekte ortak bir Güney Kafkasya kimliğinin kurulma olasılığını tartışmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Güney Kafkasya, milli kimlik, etnik çatışma, bölgecilik, entegrasyon

Common Identity as the Missing Element in the Construction of Regionalism in the South Caucasus [Güney Kafkasya’da Bölgeciliğin Kurulmasında Eksik Unsur Olan Ortak Kimliğin Tahlili]

The understanding of the South Caucasus as a region is a relatively disputable concept. Despite their geographic proximity and common historical and cultural background, the three states of the region (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) do not perceive themselves in the context of a regional “South Caucasian” identity and do not make any attempts to pursue regional solutions to common problems or develop any economic cooperation on a regional, rather than a bilateral level of relations. Although several attempts were made to create integration projects throughout the history of the twentieth century, all of them failed due to the deep-rooted historical enmity, artificial character of the top-down integration and different visions of threat among the states of the region either during the years of independence in 1918-1920, the Soviet period or in the current days. This article will discuss to what extent the lack of common identity between nations became the main reason of the failure of integration in the South Caucasus and whether there is a potential for the establishment of common South Caucasian identity in the near future.

Keywords:

South Caucasus, national identity, ethnic conflict, regionalism, integration,

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