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Russian Hegemony in the post-Soviet Region: The Case of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War
Hanzelková, Karolína ; Aslan, Emil (advisor) ; Solovyeva, Anzhelika (referee)
The Master's thesis examines Russia's hegemonic efforts to strengthen its influence in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and, therefore, in its so-called near abroad. The work is conducted as a case study of the 2020 Second Nagorno-Karabakh War and the subsequent deployment of the Russian uni-national peacekeeping mission in the region. The thesis aims to discover whether the physical presence of the Russian peacekeepers in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the new realities after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War increased the influence of Russia and thus strengthened its hegemonic position in the South Caucasus region or not. The thesis is framed by hegemonic stability theories and regional security complex and supplemented by empirical data.
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Analysis of relations of the South Caucasus countries
Makovský, Pavel ; Jelen, Libor (advisor) ; Uchočová, Michaela (referee)
Pavel Makovský: Analýza vztahů jihokavkazských států Abstrakt The South Caucasus is very heterogeneous and dynamic region. In the area are conflicts not only between Christianity and Islam, but also major geopolitical actors. The world power is interested in this area thanks to exploitation of oil, natural gas and pipeline from Azerbaijan. The main aim of the bachelor thesis is to analyze the interrelationships of all three states, which is based on principles of liberal-idealist tradition. This thesis is focused on the economic power and interdependence of foreign trade, the intensity and the results of international meetings of politicians or the involvement of transnational institutions and their benefits. Each state takes to its neighbors totally different attitude and because of it are the resulting relationships quite different. Diversity of these states encourages orientation on the superpowers and institutions. These interests puts their potential partners against each other. Instability of the region confirms the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is still actual, because there were mutual armed clashes even in April 2016. Keywords: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, South Caucasus, liberal-idealist tradition of international relations, geopolitics
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Regional Powers and Security Dynamics: How do Russia, Turkey and Iran shape security in the South Caucasus?
Matjasch, Alexandra ; Ditrych, Ondřej (advisor) ; Rosendorf, Ondřej (referee)
The aim of the present paper is to answer the question on how do regional powers shape the security environment within their regional subcomplex? The research interest is conditioned by the rise of powers that represent strong actors, especially in regional affairs, and which certainly influence dynamics within their region. It has been assumed that the manifestation of power at the regional level can also be transferred, to the global level leading to an elevated position of these actors in global affairs, allowing equally for the existing Western-led order to be challenged. These assumptions have been applied and tested on the example of the regional powers Russia, Turkey and Iran and their respective influence on the security dynamics in the South Caucasus as their historically common shared neighbourhood. In order to disentangle the complicated web of relationships and influential factors, the descriptive framework of the Theory of Regional Security Complexes as suggested by Barry Buzan has been outlined and applied. Based on these theoretical observations the attention has been further turned towards the empirical testing of the hypothesis which states that Russia, Turkey and Iran have exercised influence during the second Nagorno-Karabakh War 2020 that occurred between Armenia and Azerbaijan...
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Geopolitical aspects of transport interconnections development in the Southern Caucasus
Makovský, Pavel ; Jelen, Libor (advisor) ; Nováček, Aleš (referee)
Pavel Makovský: Geopolitical aspects of transport interconnections development in the Southern Caucasus Abstract This study solves transport interconnection in the South Caucasus region with a focus on four modes of transport - air, rail, road and pipeline. The research covers regional cooperation and cross-border involvement of other states and international organizations. Literature and data research from statistical office of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia sites, which I analyzed and confronted with the liberal theory of functionalism (neofunctionalism) and the opposite theory of realism (neorealism), was conducted. The result is an interdependence analysis evaluated at two ranks (regional and cross-border). It is followed by the applicability and summary of all political actors acting on the basis of liberal or realistic thinking. On the basis of the work there is possibility to build on research in the region of Central Asia. Keywords: South Caucasus; transport interconnection; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Georgia; geopolitics
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Analysis of relations of the South Caucasus countries
Makovský, Pavel ; Jelen, Libor (advisor) ; Uchočová, Michaela (referee)
Pavel Makovský: Analýza vztahů jihokavkazských států Abstrakt The South Caucasus is very heterogeneous and dynamic region. In the area are conflicts not only between Christianity and Islam, but also major geopolitical actors. The world power is interested in this area thanks to exploitation of oil, natural gas and pipeline from Azerbaijan. The main aim of the bachelor thesis is to analyze the interrelationships of all three states, which is based on principles of liberal-idealist tradition. This thesis is focused on the economic power and interdependence of foreign trade, the intensity and the results of international meetings of politicians or the involvement of transnational institutions and their benefits. Each state takes to its neighbors totally different attitude and because of it are the resulting relationships quite different. Diversity of these states encourages orientation on the superpowers and institutions. These interests puts their potential partners against each other. Instability of the region confirms the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is still actual, because there were mutual armed clashes even in April 2016. Keywords: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, South Caucasus, liberal-idealist tradition of international relations, geopolitics
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The Foreign Policy and Statehood Issues of Nagorno Karabakh. Case Study of the Quasi-state
Křikava, Filip ; Slačálek, Ondřej (advisor) ; Suchý, Štěpán (referee)
The objective of this thesis is to determine whether Nagorno-Karabakh can act autonomously with respect to internal and external sovereignty and whether a sense of Nagorno-Karabakh identity exists. The subject will be examined as a single case study with the application of the concept of weak states to the quasi-state Nagorno-Karabakh. The paper will first review the historical development of relations among Azerbaijan, Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. It will then focus on the foreign policy and the internal structure of Nagorno-Karabakh, presenting an analysis of its constitution as well as electoral and party systems. Furthermore, the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh identity will be explored. The conclusion of the thesis aims to evaluate the extent to which Nagorno-Karabakh is capable of acting autonomously. Key words Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Quasi-State, South Caucasus, Armenian Foreign Policy
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Ethnicity, Territoriality, and Conflict in the South Caucasus - A Qualitative Comparative Analysis
Chernyaeva, Maria ; Aslan, Emil (advisor) ; Šír, Jan (referee)
Under what configuration of conditions do ethno-territorial conflicts escalate, and under what configurations of conditions is conflict avoided between a minority and the centre in multi- ethnic states? This dissertation employs qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) in order to capture the causal patterns of conflict escalation and peace preservation. By simultaneously analysing the causes of conflict and the conditions of peace, this dissertation bridges a significant gap in the existing literature that assumes causal linearity and unifinality. The QCA analysis this dissertation conducts is grounded in empirical evidence from the South Caucasus where, after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, three newly independent states emerged and grappled with the accommodation of ethnic-minorities and their evolving identities. The QCA analysis reveals that, contrary to the popular premise that regional autonomy is "an effective antidote" for ethno-territorial wars, autonomy in the South Caucasus was conducive to conflict and the lack of autonomy was conducive to peace. Nevertheless, this dissertation does not suggest that autonomy on its own can explain the complexity of inter-ethnic relations. Rather, it argues that there were multiple configurations of conditions that interacted to produce...
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EU Policy towards Eastern Partnership Countries. A Gap between Goals and Achievements
Mammadova, Gunel ; Plechanovová, Běla (advisor) ; Kučerová, Irah (referee)
This study seeks to examine and assess the effectiveness of the Eastern Partnership Policy (EaP) of the European Union. Beside introduction of positive novelties of the Eastern Partnership, this paper gives a premium attention to scrutinize the possible limitations and shortfalls of EaP. Hence, the study aims to analyze some internal and external factors that complicate the effective functioning of the EaP. The inconsistency of the EU policy structure, the role of Russia and its Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU) in EAP, the ambivalent policy of some Member States (Germany and Italy are examined) toward the EaP, unconsidered discrepancy of eastern partners are analyzed and considered as prime reasons of ineffectiveness. In addition, examined case studies of Ukraine and Azerbaijan reveal that the EU's commitment to their "shared values" are controversial. This paper presents that the EU should find a balance between its economic/energy interests and normative values vis-a-vis Eastern Partners in order to fill the gap between its goals and achievements.
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Energy security in the South Caucasus region (Armenia as security challenge)
Ďuraňa, Tomáš ; Dubský, Zbyněk (advisor) ; Knotková, Vladimíra (referee)
The thesis deals with the issue of energy security in geopolitically strategic region of South Caucasus. The focus is on analyzing the development of energy policy in the individual countries of the region since the collapse of the Soviet union. On this basis is determined the most important security challenge: Armenia. This challenge results from the need to counteract the influence of external actors in the region and to address long-standing regional conflicts that would contribute not only to the stability of the South Caucasus, but also help to fully realize the potential of the region as an important transit corridor for Caspian and Iranian energy resources.
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The Application of the Clash of Civilizations Theory to the Conflicts in the South Caucasus
Šilhán, Vojtěch ; Cibulková, Petra (advisor) ; Havlová, Radka (referee)
The aim of this bachelor thesis is to determine whether it is possible to apply the concept of Samuel Huntington's clash of civilizations to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The thesis is divided into two chapters. The first one deals with a summary of Huntington's publication The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. At the end of the chapter, four premises of the validity of the clash of civilizations hypothesis are made. The second chapter deals with the analysis of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with an emphasis on the causes of the conflict and the role of primary, secondary and tertiary actors. Subsequently, it examines whether the premises laid down in the first chapter comply with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
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