Assignment: Final Essay
Course: Introduction to International Relations
The analysis of the recent 44 day war betweeen Armenia and Azerbaijan in international
context: the struggle for power between Russia and Turkey
28.01.2022
, Table of contents
Acknowledgements…………………………………………………….….……2
Introduction………………………………………………………………….….3
Analysis.…………….…………………………………………………………..4
Theoretical Framework…………………………………………………….….10
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………….12
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………...15
Appendices……………………………………………………………….……22
1
, During the collapsing process of the Soviet Union several conflicts in the Southern Caucasus
broke out including the territorial and ethnic rivalry between Armenia and Azerbaijan, regarding
the Armenian populated region Nagorno-Karabakh.1 In the history of post-Soviet Eurasia this
conflict is known as the most enduring warfare. The Centre for European Policy Studies noted
that this dispute is already going through its fourth decade.2 The First Nagorno Karabakh war
broke out in 1988 and it was related to the self-determination assertions of the population of
Nagorno-Karabakh, and in response the Azerbaijani forces committed a series of ethnic
cleansing acts in the territory of Azerbaijan, namely in Baku, Sumgait and Kirovabad.3 On
December 10, 1991 Nagorno-Karabakh declared the creation of the Republic of
Nagorno-Karabakh and in 1994 a ceasefire was declared ending the war with the victory of
4
Armenian forces. In 2016 on the Armenian-Azerbaijani frontline a fighting broke out again
leading to more than 300 deaths on both sides during the 4 days of the conflict resulting in
Azerbaijani forces gaining control over two strategically crucial locations in the territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh, namely Lalatapa and Talish. 5 This was followed by the clashes in July 2020
near Tavush Province of Armenia, which cemented Baku’s confidence with regards to political
instabilities in Armenia, leading to the final full-scale breakout of war in September 2020, which
6
lasted for 44 days. This essay deems to analyze the 44 day war between Armenia and
Azerbaijan in international context looking at it from different geopolitical dimensions pointing
about the interdependence and the regional hegemony of Russia, which has been challenged by
1
(Rau, 2008)
2
(Centre for European Policy Studies, 2021)
3
(Shahmuratian, 1990)
4
(Horowitz, 2005)
5
(Marczak and Shields, 2020)
6
(Armenia: Clashes with Azerbaijan reported in Tavush on July 16 following failed ceasefire /update 1, 2020)
2
Course: Introduction to International Relations
The analysis of the recent 44 day war betweeen Armenia and Azerbaijan in international
context: the struggle for power between Russia and Turkey
28.01.2022
, Table of contents
Acknowledgements…………………………………………………….….……2
Introduction………………………………………………………………….….3
Analysis.…………….…………………………………………………………..4
Theoretical Framework…………………………………………………….….10
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………….12
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………...15
Appendices……………………………………………………………….……22
1
, During the collapsing process of the Soviet Union several conflicts in the Southern Caucasus
broke out including the territorial and ethnic rivalry between Armenia and Azerbaijan, regarding
the Armenian populated region Nagorno-Karabakh.1 In the history of post-Soviet Eurasia this
conflict is known as the most enduring warfare. The Centre for European Policy Studies noted
that this dispute is already going through its fourth decade.2 The First Nagorno Karabakh war
broke out in 1988 and it was related to the self-determination assertions of the population of
Nagorno-Karabakh, and in response the Azerbaijani forces committed a series of ethnic
cleansing acts in the territory of Azerbaijan, namely in Baku, Sumgait and Kirovabad.3 On
December 10, 1991 Nagorno-Karabakh declared the creation of the Republic of
Nagorno-Karabakh and in 1994 a ceasefire was declared ending the war with the victory of
4
Armenian forces. In 2016 on the Armenian-Azerbaijani frontline a fighting broke out again
leading to more than 300 deaths on both sides during the 4 days of the conflict resulting in
Azerbaijani forces gaining control over two strategically crucial locations in the territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh, namely Lalatapa and Talish. 5 This was followed by the clashes in July 2020
near Tavush Province of Armenia, which cemented Baku’s confidence with regards to political
instabilities in Armenia, leading to the final full-scale breakout of war in September 2020, which
6
lasted for 44 days. This essay deems to analyze the 44 day war between Armenia and
Azerbaijan in international context looking at it from different geopolitical dimensions pointing
about the interdependence and the regional hegemony of Russia, which has been challenged by
1
(Rau, 2008)
2
(Centre for European Policy Studies, 2021)
3
(Shahmuratian, 1990)
4
(Horowitz, 2005)
5
(Marczak and Shields, 2020)
6
(Armenia: Clashes with Azerbaijan reported in Tavush on July 16 following failed ceasefire /update 1, 2020)
2
