Georgia/Abkhazia
June 1 - June 13, 2014
The unique geographical position of the Caucasus region, throughout its rich history, has experienced influences of diverse regional and global actors. In addition, deep-rooted local conflicts in the North and South Caucasus have not been only a feature of the past. On the contrary, in the wake of the fall of the Soviet Union, latent and dormant antagonisms came to the fore, as the ideological fabric of Soviet republics began to tear. It is with the awareness that conflicts in the former Soviet spaces are unique in terms of local roots and outside influences, we invite students to examine one of them – Georgian – Abkhaz conflict. By facilitating the exposure of students to diverse conflict narratives, we hope that students will attain a more nuanced understanding of this conflict and perhaps envision more pragmatic ways of transforming the Georgian-Abkhaz relationship.
The course will travel to Tbilisi and Sukhum/i and will offer opportunities to meet with a wide range of experts, including academics, practitioners, and officials in both locations. Formal meetings with representatives of governmental, non-governmental, and academic organizations will aim at developing a more detailed understanding of the multifaceted issues affecting societies in conflict. Focusing on different areas of this conflict, students will analyze conflict dynamics and conflict resolution approaches utilized in attempts to address them. The program will also aim at providing background to changes experienced in Tbilisi and Sukhum/i since the fall of the Soviet Union, ethnic and political tensions there, and aftermath of conflicts, while examining potentially viable alternatives to current political impasses.
One of the main themes of the course is the tension between realpolitik, structural, basic human needs, and a variety of other attempts to explain conflict dynamics. These divergent approaches will be compared and contrasted in light of economic, political, anthropological, psychological, historical, and cultural insights into these conflicts. The implications of these various explanations will be considered in relation to different approaches to conflict resolution practice. Students will engage with local peers, while attending lectures by regional experts and meetings with governmental and non-governmental actors, engaged in conflict analysis and resolution efforts.