The Caucasian Knot: The History & Geopolitics of Nagorno-Karabagh (Politics in Contemporary Asia)

by Levon Chorbajian, Patrick Donabedian, Claude Mutafian

Release Date: November, 1994

Edition: Hardcover

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Recommended to all students of the Caucasus

"Caucasian Knot" is the most important book ever written on the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. It highlights the causes of the opposition of this Armenian region to the authorities of the self-proclaimed "Azerbaijani Republic," a Moslem state committed to weed out the indigenous Christians from the territory she currently controls by virtue of having petroleum, and, thus, some political clout beyond her borders. The book is well-written, well-researched and presents many invaluable documents in native languages. Recommended to anyone who is serious about history of the Caucasus.

"Caucasian Knot:" Notable for its Humanistic Appeal

This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in the history and politics of a fascinating little country called Nagorno Karabagh, or Artsakh in Armenian. It should not be overlooked by anybody who is keen to learn more about the Caucasus, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. The text traces Armenian history from its earliest forms to recent times with impressive detail. It is academic but readable and enjoyable. This is an example of how a good history book should be written. I am delighted to have such a memorable book on my library shelves. The authors presented deeply revealing guide to modern culture and politics of the volatile Caucasus that fills a wide gap in general knowledge. The tone of the text is balanced but maybe too scholarly. It rendered me great assistance when I was working on my dissertation on Caucasian politics back in mid-1990s. The book is free of any offensive or biased remarks concerning any ethnic groups in the Caucasus and is notable for its clear humanistic appeal. When I visited the region three years ago on a humanitarian mission, my own experience only confirmed the value of the "Caucasian Knot."

"Caucasian Knot" is about the current plight of the people of Nagorno Karabakh, a long suffered Armenian Christian land that freed itself from the Azerbaijani yoke a decade ago. It is a sorry situation since the Armenians of Artsakh are among the oldest distinct population groupings of Eurasia. Armenian settlements and a distinct political entity have existed in Artsakh since the 2nd century B.C. The book shows that Armenian independence prevailed there until the collapse and partition of the first Armenian state in the 5th Century A.D. At that time, between 480 and 483, Moses of Xoren wrote his famous "History of Armenia"-a manifestation of importance of Artsakh in Armenian civilization. In contrast to other Armenian lands, until the late Middle Ages, the Armenian principalities in Artsakh retained their independence under Persia's nominal rule.

The Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh were among the first in the region to embrace Christianity back in 301 A.D. in the aftermath of the missionary activities of St. Gregory the Illuminator. In this context, the repeated destruction and rebuilding of the Monastery of Amaras symbolizes the resilience and determination of the Armenians of Artsakh. First built around 330 A.D. by St. Gregory the Illuminator, it has been repeatedly damaged and destroyed by countless invaders--such as the Arabs, the Persians, the Mongols and the Turks--only to be rebuilt again and again by the local population. The Monastery in Amaras was last damaged by the Azerbaijani chauvinist bigots in 1992, during Nagorno Karabakh's bitter war for independence. It has since been rebuilt and its centrality in Armenian religious life restored.

"Caucasian Knot" shows that the Armenians' quest for independence has long history. In the late 1980s, as the population of the then Soviet Union was awakened to rediscover national roots, as well as cultural and religious heritage, so did Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh. By then, they had a history of quest for independence despite Soviet oppression. Significantly, since 1923, Nagorno Karabakh was a distinct Autonomous Region within Azerbaijan-a status that reflected the population's distinction. The Armenian population became restive due to severe discrimination by the governing Communist regime in Baku since the thaw of the early 1960s, including protests in the late 1960s demanding self-determination within the confines of the USSR.

In the late 1980s, the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh were alarmed by the rise of Turkic militancy in Azerbaijan. The legacy of the 1918-1920 slaughter of Armenians by Turkish and Azerbaijani forces-especially the March 1920 destruction of Shushi, an Armenian cultural center that lost its Armenian population and character until recaptured in May 1992- was revived by pogroms in Baku and "ethnic cleansing" of Armenian population throughout the region since 1988. No less alarming was the Azerbaijani blockade aimed to starve the Armenian population into surrender and self-imposed exile. Hence, once the Armenians' quest for self-determination was rejected by the Soviet and subsequently Azerbaijani authorities, the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh embarked on their quest for independence as the sole guarantor for their self-survival.

The Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh declared their independence and vowed to defend the Armenian character of their land. They then withstood a three-year long brutal war in which the vastly superior Azerbaijani forces strove to destroy them completely. Presently, the population of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh is a mixture of the local population and Armenian refugees from parts of Nagorno-Karabakh still held by Azerbaijani forces, as well as ethnically cleansed Armenian communities in other parts of Azerbaijan, most notably Baku. They are trying to rebuild their country. A mere 150,000-200,000 people surrounded by a sea of hate with only a corridor to Armenia as a life-line of sustenance.

Therefore, we should recognize the determination of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh to preserve and revise their heritage and take control of their lives. In an era where the United States has stood up to the rights of endangered minorities to self-determination, stability, and betterment of life, we should not neglect the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Armenian people of Artsakh. They have already fought and sacrificed enormously in order to attain these rights. They deserve not only our congratulations, but our recognition and help, so that they can continue to grow and develop free of existential threats.