The contested regions are characterized by legal, territorial, and political complexity. The collapse of the Soviet Union was followed by the blood-shedding wars in the South Caucasus - Georgia was no exception. The secession of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia in the early 1990s created an unstable geopolitical environment in the shared neighborhood of the European Union and Russia. The conflicts were re-escalated in August 2008, when the armed troops of the Russian Federation entered the Tskhinvali region and engaged in full-scale military conflict with Georgia. In light of the five-day war, the European Union emerged as a leading international actor in the process of crisis management. The cease-fire agreement brokered by the French President Sarkozy was widely praised as a diplomatic success. Although, the post-war period showed that the Kremlin violated the agreement protocol by recognition of the independence of the separatist regions.
The thesis explores the EU conflict mediation efforts in the contested regions of Georgia. It presents the historical account of the secessionist conflicts from the international perspective and emphasizes the role of Russia as one of the main regional actors. The empirical analysis is focusing on the various mechanisms of the EU, such as the EUSR, EUMM, and NREP which have been utilized for the purpose of conflict mediation. The research finds that there are several factors which limit the EU's conflict mediation capacity and constrain the achievement of tangible results: a) low-level of internalization of the EU's policy in Georgia and de-facto entities, b) divergence within the Union on external governance policies, c) The 'near abroad' policy of Russia and strong leverage on the contested regions.
The research employs various theoretical tools that enable the assessment of the EU's conflict mediation efficiency in four stages: a) conflict mediation, b) conflict transformation, c) conflict management, d) conflict settlement. The thesis aims to contribute to the existing research in the area of EU-Georgian relations in the context. Furthermore, it intends in the context of regional politics.
Anotace v angličtině
The contested regions are characterized by legal, territorial, and political complexity. The collapse of the Soviet Union was followed by the blood-shedding wars in the South Caucasus - Georgia was no exception. The secession of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia in the early 1990s created an unstable geopolitical environment in the shared neighborhood of the European Union and Russia. The conflicts were re-escalated in August 2008, when the armed troops of the Russian Federation entered the Tskhinvali region and engaged in full-scale military conflict with Georgia. In light of the five-day war, the European Union emerged as a leading international actor in the process of crisis management. The cease-fire agreement brokered by the French President Sarkozy was widely praised as a diplomatic success. Although, the post-war period showed that the Kremlin violated the agreement protocol by recognition of the independence of the separatist regions.
The thesis explores the EU conflict mediation efforts in the contested regions of Georgia. It presents the historical account of the secessionist conflicts from the international perspective and emphasizes the role of Russia as one of the main regional actors. The empirical analysis is focusing on the various mechanisms of the EU, such as the EUSR, EUMM, and NREP which have been utilized for the purpose of conflict mediation. The research finds that there are several factors which limit the EU's conflict mediation capacity and constrain the achievement of tangible results: a) low-level of internalization of the EU's policy in Georgia and de-facto entities, b) divergence within the Union on external governance policies, c) The 'near abroad' policy of Russia and strong leverage on the contested regions.
The research employs various theoretical tools that enable the assessment of the EU's conflict mediation efficiency in four stages: a) conflict mediation, b) conflict transformation, c) conflict management, d) conflict settlement. The thesis aims to contribute to the existing research in the area of EU-Georgian relations in the context. Furthermore, it intends in the context of regional politics.
Klíčová slova
European Union, Georgia, Russia, Contested Regions, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, NREP
Klíčová slova v angličtině
European Union, Georgia, Russia, Contested Regions, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, NREP
Rozsah průvodní práce
125
Jazyk
AN
Anotace
The contested regions are characterized by legal, territorial, and political complexity. The collapse of the Soviet Union was followed by the blood-shedding wars in the South Caucasus - Georgia was no exception. The secession of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia in the early 1990s created an unstable geopolitical environment in the shared neighborhood of the European Union and Russia. The conflicts were re-escalated in August 2008, when the armed troops of the Russian Federation entered the Tskhinvali region and engaged in full-scale military conflict with Georgia. In light of the five-day war, the European Union emerged as a leading international actor in the process of crisis management. The cease-fire agreement brokered by the French President Sarkozy was widely praised as a diplomatic success. Although, the post-war period showed that the Kremlin violated the agreement protocol by recognition of the independence of the separatist regions.
The thesis explores the EU conflict mediation efforts in the contested regions of Georgia. It presents the historical account of the secessionist conflicts from the international perspective and emphasizes the role of Russia as one of the main regional actors. The empirical analysis is focusing on the various mechanisms of the EU, such as the EUSR, EUMM, and NREP which have been utilized for the purpose of conflict mediation. The research finds that there are several factors which limit the EU's conflict mediation capacity and constrain the achievement of tangible results: a) low-level of internalization of the EU's policy in Georgia and de-facto entities, b) divergence within the Union on external governance policies, c) The 'near abroad' policy of Russia and strong leverage on the contested regions.
The research employs various theoretical tools that enable the assessment of the EU's conflict mediation efficiency in four stages: a) conflict mediation, b) conflict transformation, c) conflict management, d) conflict settlement. The thesis aims to contribute to the existing research in the area of EU-Georgian relations in the context. Furthermore, it intends in the context of regional politics.
Anotace v angličtině
The contested regions are characterized by legal, territorial, and political complexity. The collapse of the Soviet Union was followed by the blood-shedding wars in the South Caucasus - Georgia was no exception. The secession of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia in the early 1990s created an unstable geopolitical environment in the shared neighborhood of the European Union and Russia. The conflicts were re-escalated in August 2008, when the armed troops of the Russian Federation entered the Tskhinvali region and engaged in full-scale military conflict with Georgia. In light of the five-day war, the European Union emerged as a leading international actor in the process of crisis management. The cease-fire agreement brokered by the French President Sarkozy was widely praised as a diplomatic success. Although, the post-war period showed that the Kremlin violated the agreement protocol by recognition of the independence of the separatist regions.
The thesis explores the EU conflict mediation efforts in the contested regions of Georgia. It presents the historical account of the secessionist conflicts from the international perspective and emphasizes the role of Russia as one of the main regional actors. The empirical analysis is focusing on the various mechanisms of the EU, such as the EUSR, EUMM, and NREP which have been utilized for the purpose of conflict mediation. The research finds that there are several factors which limit the EU's conflict mediation capacity and constrain the achievement of tangible results: a) low-level of internalization of the EU's policy in Georgia and de-facto entities, b) divergence within the Union on external governance policies, c) The 'near abroad' policy of Russia and strong leverage on the contested regions.
The research employs various theoretical tools that enable the assessment of the EU's conflict mediation efficiency in four stages: a) conflict mediation, b) conflict transformation, c) conflict management, d) conflict settlement. The thesis aims to contribute to the existing research in the area of EU-Georgian relations in the context. Furthermore, it intends in the context of regional politics.
Klíčová slova
European Union, Georgia, Russia, Contested Regions, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, NREP
Klíčová slova v angličtině
European Union, Georgia, Russia, Contested Regions, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, NREP
Zásady pro vypracování
Based on EUROCULTURE Thesis portfolio checklist/guidelines as follows:
A) Part One: The first part of the checklist is something to work on towards achieving the first milestone of submitting a thesis topic by 15 September.
Milestone one: submit a provisional thesis topic to the coordinators of the first and second university by 15 September.
B) Part Two: Thesis Portfolio
1) Working title and functional sub-title of the thesis
2) Introduction section: summary and purpose of the proposed study
3) Research question(s) or problem statement:
4) Statement about European dimension of your thesis (significance of the research)
5) Contextualization of the research (review of relevant literature)
6) Proposed research methodology
7) Proposed framework of the study
8) Research ethics
9) Timetable to meet 1 June/1 August deadline
10) List of references and annotated bibliography
Milestone two: submit your thesis portfolio (the elaborated thesis proposal) to both supervisors and the coordinators of the first and second university by 1 December. Assessment (pass or rewrite) of the supervisors is required before Christmas. If necessary, your supervisors may refer the portfolio back to you for revision. Note that you need to have your portfolio approved by both supervisors ultimately by 15 February. Only students who have their portfolios approved by that date may participate in the fourth semester's thesis seminar.
C) Part three 4th-semester teachings will start per 1 March at all universities. Apart from a course Eurocompetence II this will include a Thesis seminar. You are advised to use the period between 1 January and 1 March to keep working on the thesis: reading/selecting literature, prepare a literature overview/annotated bibliography, have a (skype) meeting with your supervisor(s) etc.
Zásady pro vypracování
Based on EUROCULTURE Thesis portfolio checklist/guidelines as follows:
A) Part One: The first part of the checklist is something to work on towards achieving the first milestone of submitting a thesis topic by 15 September.
Milestone one: submit a provisional thesis topic to the coordinators of the first and second university by 15 September.
B) Part Two: Thesis Portfolio
1) Working title and functional sub-title of the thesis
2) Introduction section: summary and purpose of the proposed study
3) Research question(s) or problem statement:
4) Statement about European dimension of your thesis (significance of the research)
5) Contextualization of the research (review of relevant literature)
6) Proposed research methodology
7) Proposed framework of the study
8) Research ethics
9) Timetable to meet 1 June/1 August deadline
10) List of references and annotated bibliography
Milestone two: submit your thesis portfolio (the elaborated thesis proposal) to both supervisors and the coordinators of the first and second university by 1 December. Assessment (pass or rewrite) of the supervisors is required before Christmas. If necessary, your supervisors may refer the portfolio back to you for revision. Note that you need to have your portfolio approved by both supervisors ultimately by 15 February. Only students who have their portfolios approved by that date may participate in the fourth semester's thesis seminar.
C) Part three 4th-semester teachings will start per 1 March at all universities. Apart from a course Eurocompetence II this will include a Thesis seminar. You are advised to use the period between 1 January and 1 March to keep working on the thesis: reading/selecting literature, prepare a literature overview/annotated bibliography, have a (skype) meeting with your supervisor(s) etc.
Seznam doporučené literatury
Relevant Literature:
Biscop, S. (2010). The ENP, Security, and Democracy in the Context of the European Security Strategy Boonstra, J., Delcour, L. (2015). A Broken Region: Evaluating EU Policies in South Caucasus Caspersen, N., Herrberg, A. (2010). Engaging Unrecognized States: Opportunity or Challenge for EU Coppieters, B. (2004). Europeanization and Conflict Resolution: Case Studies from European Periphery Delcour L. (2017) The EU and Russia in Their Contested Neighborhood Delcour, L. (2011). The European Unions Policy in South Caucasus: In Search of a Strategy Fischer, S. (2010). The EUs non-recognition and engagement policy towards Abkhazia and South Ossetia Fischer, S. (2010). How to Engage with Abkhazia Gerrits, A., Bader, M. (2016). Russian patronage over Abkhazia and South Ossetia Grono, F.M. (2010). Georgias Conflicts: What Role for the EU as Mediator? Lynch, D. (2010). Why Georgia Matters. Paris: European Union Institute for Security Studies Popescu, N. (2010). EU Foreign Policy and Post-Soviet Conflicts: Stealth Intervention Popescu, M. (2013). Exploring the limits of the EUs normative power towards the south Caucasus Rinnert, D. (2011). The Eastern Partnership in Georgia: Increasing Efficiency of EU Neighborhood Policies in South Caucasus Schimmelfennig, F. (2014) Governance by Conditionality: EU Rule Transfer to the Candidate Countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Sierra, O. P. (2010). The Governance of the European Union in its Eastern Neighborhood: the Impact of the EU on Georgia Tocci, N. (2007). The EU and Conflict Resolution: Promoting Peace in the Backyard
Seznam doporučené literatury
Relevant Literature:
Biscop, S. (2010). The ENP, Security, and Democracy in the Context of the European Security Strategy Boonstra, J., Delcour, L. (2015). A Broken Region: Evaluating EU Policies in South Caucasus Caspersen, N., Herrberg, A. (2010). Engaging Unrecognized States: Opportunity or Challenge for EU Coppieters, B. (2004). Europeanization and Conflict Resolution: Case Studies from European Periphery Delcour L. (2017) The EU and Russia in Their Contested Neighborhood Delcour, L. (2011). The European Unions Policy in South Caucasus: In Search of a Strategy Fischer, S. (2010). The EUs non-recognition and engagement policy towards Abkhazia and South Ossetia Fischer, S. (2010). How to Engage with Abkhazia Gerrits, A., Bader, M. (2016). Russian patronage over Abkhazia and South Ossetia Grono, F.M. (2010). Georgias Conflicts: What Role for the EU as Mediator? Lynch, D. (2010). Why Georgia Matters. Paris: European Union Institute for Security Studies Popescu, N. (2010). EU Foreign Policy and Post-Soviet Conflicts: Stealth Intervention Popescu, M. (2013). Exploring the limits of the EUs normative power towards the south Caucasus Rinnert, D. (2011). The Eastern Partnership in Georgia: Increasing Efficiency of EU Neighborhood Policies in South Caucasus Schimmelfennig, F. (2014) Governance by Conditionality: EU Rule Transfer to the Candidate Countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Sierra, O. P. (2010). The Governance of the European Union in its Eastern Neighborhood: the Impact of the EU on Georgia Tocci, N. (2007). The EU and Conflict Resolution: Promoting Peace in the Backyard