The purpose of this study is to analyse the role of civil society in the de facto states of the S... more The purpose of this study is to analyse the role of civil society in the de facto states of the South Caucasus in the process of conflict transformation. It is based on a field research of the civil society organizations in Abkhazia and Nagorno Karabakh. The data were collected by the methods of expert interviews, semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The role of Abkhazian and Karabakh civil society organizations in the conflict transformation is identified as not only positive, but also as having some negative aspects. The study also makes some general remarks concerning the theory of conflict transformation.
If Armenian and Azerbaijani negotiators ever agree on the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh, it w... more If Armenian and Azerbaijani negotiators ever agree on the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh, it will not necessarily resolve the long-running conflict, because any peace treaty would require the consent of the Karabakh Armenians, whose political representatives are currently excluded from peace negotiations. It is difficult to imagine the Karabakh Armenians consenting to such a treaty without a change in their perception of the Azerbaijanis. According to the theory of conflict transformation/peacebuilding, Nagorno-Karabakh’s civil society should be able to make a contribution to this change. Using the example of four Nagorno-Karabakh civil society organisations, this study shows how they positively or negatively influence conflict transformation.
Dichotomy between endo-ethnonyms (the way certain people call themselves) and exo-ethnonyms (what... more Dichotomy between endo-ethnonyms (the way certain people call themselves) and exo-ethnonyms (what the nation is called by the neighbours) is well known from Europe. Also the etymology of both the types of ethnonyms (and also toponyms) in Europe is usually widely known. However, it is not only Europe the phenomenon of endo- and exo-ethnonyms (and toponyms) is obviously typical of. In our paper we deal with the region of the South Caucasus and the endo- and exo-ethnonyms and toponyms of the three most numerous South Caucasian nations – Armenians, Azerbaijanis and Georgians.
The purpose of this study is to analyse the role of civil society in the de facto states of the S... more The purpose of this study is to analyse the role of civil society in the de facto states of the South Caucasus in the process of conflict transformation. It is based on a field research of the civil society organizations in Abkhazia and Nagorno Karabakh. The data were collected by the methods of expert interviews, semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The role of Abkhazian and Karabakh civil society organizations in the conflict transformation is identified as not only positive, but also as having some negative aspects. The study also makes some general remarks concerning the theory of conflict transformation.
De-facto states constitute an interesting anomaly in the international system of sovereign states... more De-facto states constitute an interesting anomaly in the international system of sovereign states. No matter how long
their control of claimed territory has lasted or how effective their capacities to provide governmental services to its population are, they fail to achieve international recognition. A change in the legitimising strategy adopted by the leaders of de-facto states came with the recognition of Kosovo’s independence by most western powers. In the past, their claims to independence were based primarily on the right to national self-determination, historical continuity and claim to a remedial right to secession, based on alleged human-rights violations. Increasingly, though, these arguments have been supplemented by an emphasis on “democratisation-for-recognition-strategy”. According to this strategy, those states that proved their viability as democratic states should earn their sovereignty. The aim of this article is to demonstrate this strategy on an instrumental case study of Abkhazia. As a result of the study of secondary literature on the topic of de-facto states democratization, supported with field research in Abkhazia, we try to identify those factors which are promoting and on the other hand obstructing a democratization process in such a de-facto state.
Ruská expanze do Asie byla doprovázena transformací vizí ruské identity, která znamenala postupný... more Ruská expanze do Asie byla doprovázena transformací vizí ruské identity, která znamenala postupný odklon Ruska od jednoznačné orientace na Evropu. Tento mentální obrat k Asii probíhal po celé 19. století a zesílil vždy po neúspěchu ruské strategie v evropském směru. Na tento vývoj navázal i SSSR. Mocenské zázemí bylo budováno prostřednictvím vytváření protektorátů, de facto států, nárazníkových zón či jen sfér vlivu. Tato území byla často později anektována. Článek se věnuje méně známé kapitole ruského tlaku na Čínu a Mongolsko. Složité balancování Ruska vůči Číně, Japonsku a Velké Británii vedlo k postupnému vytvoření de facto států Mongolska a Tuvy, které existovaly v meziválečném období a nacházely se pod vlivem SSSR. Článek tuto kapitolu ruské historie zasazuje do širšího kontextu ruských geopolitických narativů 19. a počátku 20. století.
The Russian expansion to Asia was accompanied by a transformation of the visions of the Russian identity, which meant a gradual shift of Russia away from a clear orientation towards Europe. This mental turn towards Asia took place throughout the 19th century and intensified after every failure of the Russian strategy in the European direction. This development was later followed by the USSR. The power base of Russia was being built through the creation of protectorates, de facto states, buffer zones, or just spheres of influence. Later, these territories were often annexed. The article focuses on a less known chapter of Russian pressure on China and Mongolia. Russia's complex balancing with China, Japan and the UK has led to the gradual creation of de facto states of Mongolia and Tuva, which existed between the wars and were under the influence of the USSR. The article puts this chapter of the Russian history in a wider context of Russian geopolitical narratives of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The article guides us through the quarter century long history of critical geopolitics and discus... more The article guides us through the quarter century long history of critical geopolitics and discusses its epistemological, methodological, ideological and moral handicaps, alleged handicaps and advantages. It also offers the reflection of the broader use of the sub-discipline. Analytical advantages of critical geopolitics are highlighted as well as the ideas to increase its usability: deeper cooperation with the theory of international relations; parallel deployment of complimentary knowledge of critical and neoclassical geopolitics and neutralization of its political agenda. Article thus makes the case for relevance of critical geopolitics as transdis-ciplinary analytical frame at the time when postmodern identity based challenges grapple with very traditional practical geopolitics in the troubled Europe´s neighborhood.
The purpose of this study is to analyse the role of civil society in the de facto states of the S... more The purpose of this study is to analyse the role of civil society in the de facto states of the South Caucasus in the process of conflict transformation. It is based on a field research of the civil society organizations in Abkhazia and Nagorno Karabakh. The data were collected by the methods of expert interviews, semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The role of Abkhazian and Karabakh civil society organizations in the conflict transformation is identified as not only positive, but also as having some negative aspects. The study also makes some general remarks concerning the theory of conflict transformation.
If Armenian and Azerbaijani negotiators ever agree on the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh, it w... more If Armenian and Azerbaijani negotiators ever agree on the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh, it will not necessarily resolve the long-running conflict, because any peace treaty would require the consent of the Karabakh Armenians, whose political representatives are currently excluded from peace negotiations. It is difficult to imagine the Karabakh Armenians consenting to such a treaty without a change in their perception of the Azerbaijanis. According to the theory of conflict transformation/peacebuilding, Nagorno-Karabakh’s civil society should be able to make a contribution to this change. Using the example of four Nagorno-Karabakh civil society organisations, this study shows how they positively or negatively influence conflict transformation.
Dichotomy between endo-ethnonyms (the way certain people call themselves) and exo-ethnonyms (what... more Dichotomy between endo-ethnonyms (the way certain people call themselves) and exo-ethnonyms (what the nation is called by the neighbours) is well known from Europe. Also the etymology of both the types of ethnonyms (and also toponyms) in Europe is usually widely known. However, it is not only Europe the phenomenon of endo- and exo-ethnonyms (and toponyms) is obviously typical of. In our paper we deal with the region of the South Caucasus and the endo- and exo-ethnonyms and toponyms of the three most numerous South Caucasian nations – Armenians, Azerbaijanis and Georgians.
The purpose of this study is to analyse the role of civil society in the de facto states of the S... more The purpose of this study is to analyse the role of civil society in the de facto states of the South Caucasus in the process of conflict transformation. It is based on a field research of the civil society organizations in Abkhazia and Nagorno Karabakh. The data were collected by the methods of expert interviews, semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The role of Abkhazian and Karabakh civil society organizations in the conflict transformation is identified as not only positive, but also as having some negative aspects. The study also makes some general remarks concerning the theory of conflict transformation.
De-facto states constitute an interesting anomaly in the international system of sovereign states... more De-facto states constitute an interesting anomaly in the international system of sovereign states. No matter how long
their control of claimed territory has lasted or how effective their capacities to provide governmental services to its population are, they fail to achieve international recognition. A change in the legitimising strategy adopted by the leaders of de-facto states came with the recognition of Kosovo’s independence by most western powers. In the past, their claims to independence were based primarily on the right to national self-determination, historical continuity and claim to a remedial right to secession, based on alleged human-rights violations. Increasingly, though, these arguments have been supplemented by an emphasis on “democratisation-for-recognition-strategy”. According to this strategy, those states that proved their viability as democratic states should earn their sovereignty. The aim of this article is to demonstrate this strategy on an instrumental case study of Abkhazia. As a result of the study of secondary literature on the topic of de-facto states democratization, supported with field research in Abkhazia, we try to identify those factors which are promoting and on the other hand obstructing a democratization process in such a de-facto state.
Ruská expanze do Asie byla doprovázena transformací vizí ruské identity, která znamenala postupný... more Ruská expanze do Asie byla doprovázena transformací vizí ruské identity, která znamenala postupný odklon Ruska od jednoznačné orientace na Evropu. Tento mentální obrat k Asii probíhal po celé 19. století a zesílil vždy po neúspěchu ruské strategie v evropském směru. Na tento vývoj navázal i SSSR. Mocenské zázemí bylo budováno prostřednictvím vytváření protektorátů, de facto států, nárazníkových zón či jen sfér vlivu. Tato území byla často později anektována. Článek se věnuje méně známé kapitole ruského tlaku na Čínu a Mongolsko. Složité balancování Ruska vůči Číně, Japonsku a Velké Británii vedlo k postupnému vytvoření de facto států Mongolska a Tuvy, které existovaly v meziválečném období a nacházely se pod vlivem SSSR. Článek tuto kapitolu ruské historie zasazuje do širšího kontextu ruských geopolitických narativů 19. a počátku 20. století.
The Russian expansion to Asia was accompanied by a transformation of the visions of the Russian identity, which meant a gradual shift of Russia away from a clear orientation towards Europe. This mental turn towards Asia took place throughout the 19th century and intensified after every failure of the Russian strategy in the European direction. This development was later followed by the USSR. The power base of Russia was being built through the creation of protectorates, de facto states, buffer zones, or just spheres of influence. Later, these territories were often annexed. The article focuses on a less known chapter of Russian pressure on China and Mongolia. Russia's complex balancing with China, Japan and the UK has led to the gradual creation of de facto states of Mongolia and Tuva, which existed between the wars and were under the influence of the USSR. The article puts this chapter of the Russian history in a wider context of Russian geopolitical narratives of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The article guides us through the quarter century long history of critical geopolitics and discus... more The article guides us through the quarter century long history of critical geopolitics and discusses its epistemological, methodological, ideological and moral handicaps, alleged handicaps and advantages. It also offers the reflection of the broader use of the sub-discipline. Analytical advantages of critical geopolitics are highlighted as well as the ideas to increase its usability: deeper cooperation with the theory of international relations; parallel deployment of complimentary knowledge of critical and neoclassical geopolitics and neutralization of its political agenda. Article thus makes the case for relevance of critical geopolitics as transdis-ciplinary analytical frame at the time when postmodern identity based challenges grapple with very traditional practical geopolitics in the troubled Europe´s neighborhood.
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Papers by Vladimir Baar
their control of claimed territory has lasted or how effective their capacities to provide governmental services to its population are, they fail to achieve international recognition. A change in the legitimising strategy adopted by the leaders of de-facto states came with the recognition of Kosovo’s independence by most western powers. In the past, their claims to independence were based primarily on the right to national self-determination, historical continuity and claim to a remedial right to secession, based on alleged human-rights violations. Increasingly, though, these arguments have been supplemented by an emphasis on “democratisation-for-recognition-strategy”. According to this strategy, those states that proved their viability as democratic states should earn their sovereignty. The aim of this article is to demonstrate this strategy on an instrumental case study of Abkhazia. As a result of the study of secondary literature on the topic of de-facto states democratization, supported with field research in Abkhazia, we try to identify those factors which are promoting and on the other hand obstructing a democratization process in such a de-facto state.
The Russian expansion to Asia was accompanied by a transformation of the visions of the Russian identity, which meant a gradual shift of Russia away from a clear orientation towards Europe. This mental turn towards Asia took place throughout the 19th century and intensified after every failure of the Russian strategy in the European direction. This development was later followed by the USSR. The power base of Russia was being built through the creation of protectorates, de facto states, buffer zones, or just spheres of influence. Later, these territories were often annexed. The article focuses on a less known chapter of Russian pressure on China and Mongolia. Russia's complex balancing with China, Japan and the UK has led to the gradual creation of de facto states of Mongolia and Tuva, which existed between the wars and were under the influence of the USSR. The article puts this chapter of the Russian history in a wider context of Russian geopolitical narratives of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
their control of claimed territory has lasted or how effective their capacities to provide governmental services to its population are, they fail to achieve international recognition. A change in the legitimising strategy adopted by the leaders of de-facto states came with the recognition of Kosovo’s independence by most western powers. In the past, their claims to independence were based primarily on the right to national self-determination, historical continuity and claim to a remedial right to secession, based on alleged human-rights violations. Increasingly, though, these arguments have been supplemented by an emphasis on “democratisation-for-recognition-strategy”. According to this strategy, those states that proved their viability as democratic states should earn their sovereignty. The aim of this article is to demonstrate this strategy on an instrumental case study of Abkhazia. As a result of the study of secondary literature on the topic of de-facto states democratization, supported with field research in Abkhazia, we try to identify those factors which are promoting and on the other hand obstructing a democratization process in such a de-facto state.
The Russian expansion to Asia was accompanied by a transformation of the visions of the Russian identity, which meant a gradual shift of Russia away from a clear orientation towards Europe. This mental turn towards Asia took place throughout the 19th century and intensified after every failure of the Russian strategy in the European direction. This development was later followed by the USSR. The power base of Russia was being built through the creation of protectorates, de facto states, buffer zones, or just spheres of influence. Later, these territories were often annexed. The article focuses on a less known chapter of Russian pressure on China and Mongolia. Russia's complex balancing with China, Japan and the UK has led to the gradual creation of de facto states of Mongolia and Tuva, which existed between the wars and were under the influence of the USSR. The article puts this chapter of the Russian history in a wider context of Russian geopolitical narratives of the 19th and early 20th centuries.