Georgia’s Foreign Policy from A Geopolitical Perspective (2008-2018); based on the Grand Chess Board Doctrine by Brzezinski

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Graduated with a Master's degree in Regional Studies, Central Asia and the South Caucasus. ECO College of Insurance affiliated with ECO Organization and Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.

2 PhD, Professor of International Relations, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran.

3 PhD, Professor of Regional Studies, ECO College of Insurance; Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The Russo-Georgia war in 2008 interrupted Georgia’s membership in NATO and the EU. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Georgia was a proper destination for the western countries due to its geopolitical superiority, located between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. Georgia’s goal also was to obtain the conditions of the EU and NATO to achieve the membership of these two organizations as an Eastern European State. With the occurrence of war in 2008, Georgia’s Geopolitical situation changed. The research hypothesis is, by losing 20% of Georgia’s territory in that war, one of the main conditions for joining NATO and the EU which is the territorial integrity, was suspended. This research is based on the Grand Chessboard Doctrine by Brzezinski, marking the geopolitical factors of Georgia and the great powers’ interests in this territory. The main question of the article is “What are the main features of Georgia's Foreign Policy from the Geopolitical perspective from 2008 to 2018?” the hypothesis is, “Geopolitically, Georgia’s neighborhood with Russia and the August war in 2008 resulted the occupation of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Russia, delayed the Georgia’s membership to EU and NATO and Georgia tilted toward the West since it needed to counterbalance its foreign policy with strong powers against Russia.” Therefore, despite the fact Russia tried to show the war was just an ethnic conflict, it was further than that, and Russia’s southern border security with a logical distance from NATO was the main reason for war.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. Amirahmadian, B. (2021). Georgia's foreign policy from a geopolitical perspective. (F. Ghasemi, Interviewer).
  2. BBC News. (2019). Georgia profile - Timeline. Retrieved from BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17303471.
  3. Brzezinski, Z. (1988). America's New Geostrategy. Foreign Affairs, 680-699.
  4. Brzezinski, Z. (1997). The Grand Chessboard. Washington, D.C.
  5. Bzarov, R. S. (2019). Georgia's Foreign Policy after the War in 2008. (F. Ghasemi, Interviewer).
  6. Chedia, B. (2019). US base in Georgia – A scarecrow in Russia’s backyard? Retrieved from New Eastern Europe: http://neweasterneurope.eu/2019/11/ 04/us-base-in-georgia-a-scarecrow-in-russias-backyard/.
  7. Chibirov, A. (2019). The War In Auguest 2008. (F. Ghasemi, Interviewer).
  8. Ge. (2003). UNA. Georgia Online Mgazine. Retrieved from Civil.Ge: https://web.archive.org/web/20071118053631/http://www.civil.ge/eng/detail.php?id=5924.
  9. Ge. (2010). France, U.S. Welcome Tbilisi's Abkhaz, S.Ossetia Strategy. Retrieved from Civil Georgia: https://civil.ge/archives/119826.
  10. Ge. (2019). Georgian, Russian Diplomats Meet in Prague. Retrieved from Civil.ge: https://civil.ge/archives/329706.
  11. Cohen, S. B. (2003). Geopolitics of the World System. New York.
  12. Cornell, S. F. (2005). The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline:Oil Window to the West. Washington, D.C: Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program –A Joint Transatlantic Research and Policy Center.
  13. Europe Briefing. (2008). Georgia: The Risks of Winter, International Crisis Group.
  14. European Commission. (2013). EU and Georgia conclude talks on Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. Brussels: European Commission Press. Retrieved from European Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/ presscorner/detail/en/IP_13_721.
  15. Ezzati, E. (2000). Geopolitics in 21st Century. (06 ed.). Tehran: Samt. Retrieved from https://civilica.com/doc/66780/.
  16. Falkowski, M. (2006). Russia’s Policy in the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia. Centre for Eastern Studies Warsaw. Retrieved August 6, 2014, from http://www.osw.waw.pl.
  17. Fedorov, Y. E. (2009). Medvedev’s Amendments to the Law on Defence: The Consequences For Europe. Finnish Institute of International Affairs.
  18. Frederick Starr, S.; Cornell , S. (2014). Putin’s Grand Strategy:The Eurasian Union and ItsDiscontents. Singapore: Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program.
  19. Hafeznia, M.R (2022). Iran's strategic position in the Mediterranean Sea. Retrieved from Iraninan Associasion of Geopolitics. Geopolitics Quarterly https://iag.ir./[In Persian]
  20. Hafeznia, M.R; Afshordi, M. (2005). Caucasus Geopolitical Analysis; A platform for formulating a more appropriate foreign policy in the region. Geographical research, 19-38. [In Persian]
  21. Hafeznia, M.R; Rezaee Sekkehravani, D. (2021). Explanation of Geopolitical Territorializing of the States, Case Study: Russia in Euraisa. Geopolitics Jurnal, 50-62.
  22. Hafeznia, M.R; Ahmadipour, Z; Booye, C. (2013). Legal and legitimate foundations of geopolitical actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Journal of Islamic Revolution Studies, 9-28. [In Persian]
  23. (2012). IRI Cultural Section opened at Georgia National Library. Retri -eved from Islamic Republic News Agency: https://en.irna.ir/news/8017478 /IRI-Cultural-Section-opened-at-Georgia-National-Library. [In Persian]
  24. Ismailzade, F. (2008). The Georgia–Russian conflict: a perspective from Azerbaijan and implications for the region. Caucasus Analytical Digest, 1 [In Persian]
  25. Kakachia, K; Minesashvili, S. (2015). Identity politics: Exploring Georgian foreign policy behavior. Journal of Eurasian Studies, `171-180.
  26. Kaleji, V. (2017). Caucasus in Iran's Foreign Policy: Legacies and Prospects. Retrieved from IRAS: http://www.iras.ir/en/doc/note/3186/ Caucasus-in-iran-s-foreign-policy-legacies-and-prospects. [In Persian]
  27. Kaleji, V. (2020 ). A scholar on Central Asia and Caucasian Studies. (F. Ghasemi, Interviewer).
  28. Kerimow, G. (2019). How the South Caucasus will deal with the Threat of Russia and ambitious projects in the region. (F. Ghasemi, Interviewer).
  29. Koolaee, E. (2018). The geopolitical components of Russia's foreign policy, Geopolitics Quarterly, 14(49), pp. 1-25. [In Persian]
  30. Margvelashvili, G. (2014). Georgia's president: 'Cooperating with West doesn't mean attacking Russia's interests'. (D. Z. Nemtsova, Interviewer) Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/georgias-president-cooperating-with-west-doesnt-mean-attacking-russias-interests/a-41207551.
  31. Morgenthau, H.; Thompson, K. W. (1948). Politics among Nations. New York.
  32. int. (2008). Bucharest Summit Declaration. Retrieved from North Atlantic Treaty Organization: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_ texts_8443.htm
  33. Nogayev, N. (2019). Georgia's Westernization after 1991. (F. Ghasemi, Interviewer).
  34. O Tuathail; Gearoid; and et al. (1998). The Geopolitics Reader. London.
  35. Panjikidze, H. (2013). Foreign Policy Priorities of Georgia. Tokyo: Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
  36. Rezaee, M; Koolaee, E. (2018). External Factors Affecting the Failure of Iran-Georgia Relations. Human Geography Research Quarterly, 935-950. [In Persian]
  37. (2006). Georgia: Tbilisi Accuses Moscow Of Energy Sabotage. Retrieved from RadioFreeEuropeRadioLiberty: https://www.rferl.org/a/ 1064976.html.
  38. Satsaev, E. (2019 ). The observation on the Georgi'a foreign policy from the Russian viewpoint. Georgia's foreign policy from her Geopolitical perspective. 2008-2018. Faezeh Ghasemi. NOSU, Vladikavkaz.
  39. (2017). Sentryo. Retrieved from Cisco: https://www.sentryo.net/ The-sentryo-files-industries-vs-cyberattacksepisode-2-attack-on-the-btc-oil-pipeline-in-2008/.
  40. Sharma, T. (2022). The Geopolitics of US-Poland Relations Under President Trump, Geopolitics Quarterly, 17(64), pp. 186-205. doi:20.1001 .1.17354331.1400.17.64.8.5.
  41. Shokoohi, S; Safari, A; Moradifar, S. (2021). The impact of Europeanization and De-Europeanization on Turkey's Foreign Policy, Geopolitics Quarterly, 18(66), pp. 141-173. [In Persian]
  42. SMITH, K. E. (2005). International Affairs. The outsiders: the European neighbourhood policy, pp. 757-773.
  43. The Georgian Times (2008). Barack Obama Will Demonstrate His Fidelity to Principles in Relation to Georgia, Interview with S. Zurabishvili,. Retrieved from Geotime: www.geotimes.ge
  44. Thomas, M. T. (2000). Perceptions. Russian National Interests and the Caspian Sea, pp. 75-96.
  45. Tocci, N; Darbouche, H; Emerson, M. (2008). The European Union as a Normative Foreign Policy Actor. CEPS, 1-38. Retrieved from http://aei.pitt.edu/7582/1/Wd281.pdf.
  46. Toncea, V. (2006). Geopolitical evolution of borders in Danube Basin.
  47. Torabi, Q. (2013). NATO presence in Central Asia and the Caucasus and the security of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Journal of Political Science, 175. [In Persian]
  48. Torkmeh, A; Hafeznia, M.R; Roumina, E.; Ahmadipour, Z. (2020). Critical Geopolitics Analysis from a Critical Realism aspect, Geopolitics Quarterly, 18(65), pp. 1-43. [In Persian]
  49. Utiashvili, T. (2014). why is a small state like georgia important for the usa the eu and russia. Retrieved from E-INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS STUDENTS: https://www.e-ir.info/2014/06/04/why-is-a-small-state-like-georgia-important-for-the-usa-the-eu-and-russia/.
  50. Zakariah, M. H. (2022). Britain’s Geopolitical Consideration in the Middle East during the Six-day Arab Israel War of 1967: A Reassessment, Geopolitics Quarterly, 17(64), pp. 10-27.
  51. Премьер-министр Армении. (2008). По-настоящему жизненно важный вопрос это установление добрососедских отношений со всеми странами региона и прежде всего с Азербайджаном. Retrieved from www.day.az. [In Russian]
Geopolitics Quarterly
Volume 19, Issue 72 - Serial Number 72
December 2023
Pages 337-361

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 25 January 2022
  • Revise Date: 11 March 2023
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics