The South Caucasus: Transition from Subjugation to Independence – Book Review

The South Caucasus: Transition from Subjugation to Independence (Tracing India's Footprints), written by Achal Malhotra, provides a thorough examination of the region's historical development.

Surprisingly, the South Caucasus region, so strategically located on the border between Europe and Asia on vital energy and freight transit routes, so mythically beautiful, so tumultuous in history, so ethnically diverse, and so rich in natural resources, does not receive nearly as much attention from India as it should. The region and its three states, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, have a dearth of related literature.

The South Caucasus: Transition from Subjugation to Independence (Tracing India’s Footprints), written by Achal Malhotra, provides a thorough examination of the region’s historical development, from its time as a part of multiple empires to its final independence in the contemporary age. In addition, it offers an Indian viewpoint on the area while incorporating historical, cultural, and diplomatic ties. The author, a seasoned diplomat with direct experience in the area. This is perhaps the only book on the South Caucasus published in India, and the author has held the positions of ambassador for both Georgia and Armenia. Naturally, he offers a unique viewpoint on a region that is sometimes overlooked in international discussions despite its cultural and geopolitical importance.

The South Caucasus: Transition from Subjugation to Independence (Tracing India’s Footprints) by Achal Malhotra  (Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi / Macmillan Education, 2020), Pages: 248, Price: Rs. 2,215.00, ISBN: 9789390069644

The complicated history of the South Caucasus nations of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia is covered in the book. Malhotra explores the ancient and medieval history of the area, which was characterized by invasions, conquests, and cultural exchanges between the Russian, Ottoman, and Persian empires. He also looks at the effects of Soviet control and the abrupt transition to independence after the fall of the USSR in 1991.

The book, which is divided into separate chapters, strikes a mix between political critique, personal tales, and historical accounts. A historical timeline and thematic insights into the region’s geopolitics, socioeconomic changes, and relations with outside powers like Russia, Turkey, and the West are all combined in Malhotra’s method. The focus on India’s historical and current interactions with the South Caucasus is what distinguishes the book and adds a distinctive viewpoint to the story. The book was published at a pertinent time, considering the recent escalation of the so-called frozen but smoldering war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Each of the six chapters that make up the book reads more like a semi-independent essay. It charts the South Caucasus region’s historical development from the Middle Ages to the present, with a focus on the last 150 years. Before it acceded to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in the 1920s, which the author claims signifies the beginning of the region’s subservience, Malhotra emphasizes how the South Caucasus region was at the center of political shifts in larger Central Asia from one empire to another, namely Persian, Ottoman, and Tsarist.

The seven decades of subservience ended in 1991 with the fall of the USSR. The long-suppressed ethnic aspirations of many nationalities started to surface with the introduction of bold reform programs like Glasnost and Perestroika by the last Soviet premier, Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985. Following the USSR’s dissolution, these nations eventually became independent. Through its intricate and entwined history, the author also delicately highlights the ethno-religious makeup of this incredibly diverse territory.

The book focuses on the post-independence political, economic, and foreign policy developments of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. Additionally, it clarifies the background and circumstances in which the three nations determine their unique paths. Azerbaijan is still governed by the Aliyev dynasty, whereas Georgia and Armenia have succeeded in establishing some form of democracy. Readers will be better able to comprehend how the three nations interact with the outside world thanks to the author’s clear explanation of the subtleties of their foreign policy methods.

Georgia elected not to join the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) after gaining its independence, although Azerbaijan and Armenia did. Following its 2008 war with Russia, Georgia has demonstrated an unwavering desire to integrate into Euro-Atlantic security and political economy frameworks like the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Armenia aims to achieve a balance between Russia and the West, but its inclination towards Russia is clear given that it is a part of both the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Due to its abundance of oil, Azerbaijan has more negotiating power than Georgia and Armenia. It is able to maintain an equal distance from both power blocs on its own terms and conditions, but it wishes to continue to interact with Europe through the Southern Gas Corridor and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipelines. Azerbaijan can meet significant energy security needs for Europe as well.

While understanding the modern history of the region, the book has properly addressed the concepts of regional conflict, conflict resolution/management, and peace processes. By doing this, the author highlights two significant conflicts that are affecting the area and have significant worldwide implications. Georgia’s territorial conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, and the ongoing influence of Russia are all thoroughly examined. Malhotra examines the larger geopolitical stakes while underlining the human cost of these conflicts in an analytical and sympathetic manner. According to Malhotra, the Soviet Union disregarded the ethnic and identity concerns of other ethnicities, which in the end reinforced the foundation for national self-determination.

The author emphasizes the region’s geopolitical and economic importance for Europe, particularly in relation to energy security. The region has the ability to accomplish two objectives for Europe. First, to become a pivot for diversifying Europe’s secure energy supply, and second, to become a substitute energy source by reducing Europe’s excessive reliance on Russia, with whom it has a tense relationship, particularly since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

India’s influence in the region from past to present is covered in the book’s last two chapters. Malhotra focuses on the fluctuations of India’s involvement with the South Caucasus in the post-Cold War era and emphasizes the silk route connection and colonies between India and the region. The author outlines the three nations’ stances on India’s nuclear program, the Kashmir dispute, and their reaction to India’s application for permanent membership in the UN Security Council (UNSC). Similar to this, India’s dilemma in managing its connections with Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and attending to the regional sensitivities of its strategic partner Russia in reference to India’s relationship with Georgia has been explained.

Malhotra suggests that India should increase its involvement in the area, particularly in light of its energy security. It is important since India is thinking about diversifying its energy imports in order to lessen its reliance on West Asia. New Delhi must take into consideration the other players in the area, including China, Iran, and Turkey, as well as the expanding Chinese involvement under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The book is a relevant and important addition to the literature about an area that is sometimes disregarded in international studies. Anyone interested in the South Caucasus, India’s foreign policy, or post-Soviet changes should read this book because of Malhotra’s diplomatic experience and Indian perspective, which provide new perspectives. Malhotra writes with clarity, depth, and accessibility. It is impressive how well Malhotra is able to combine micro-level cultural and social observations with macro-level geopolitical research.

This book functions as both a history guide and a policy manual in a time of changing global dynamics, where headlines are dominated by regional wars and energy security. It calls for a greater comprehension of areas like the South Caucasus that are situated at the intersection of continents and civilizations by reminding readers of the interdependence of history, culture, and geopolitics.

Ashutosh Gupta
Ashutosh Gupta
Ashutosh Gupta is a Research Scholar currently working as a Research Intern at CLAWS (Centre for Land Warfare Studies), New Delhi. He has a diverse educational background in Political Science, International Relations and International Law & Diplomacy. He is currently pursuing his Master's degree in International Relations and Area Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia University following his graduation in Political Science from University of Delhi and PG Diploma in International Law and Diplomacy from Indian Society of International Law.