How connected is the Caucasus with Asia?
Understanding the Caucasus
Pliny’s ‘Natural History’ (77 A.D.), says that the term Caucasus originates from the Greek word kaukasis, literally “(the mountain) ice-shining, white with snow”. However, it is possible the term has a Pelasgian root *kau- meaning “mountain.” The region refers to the mountain range between the Black Sea (to the west) and Caspian Sea (on the East), separating Europe and the Middle East. This is an area that is considered by many as the crossroads between Eastern Europe and Western Asia, thus constituting a ‘strategic gateway’ between the two grand continents.
The Caucasus Mountains have two ranges — the Greater Caucasus and Lesser Caucasus. The former is commonly held as the dividing line between Europe and Asia, placing Ciscaucasia, the northern part of the Caucasus region, in Europe and Transcaucasia, the southern part, in Asia. Whilst, the latter is the southern band of the Caucasus Mountains, which runs parallel to the former at a distance averaging about 100 km (60 mi). The two mountain ranges are connected by the Likh Range (Suram Range) and separated by the Kolkhida Lowland in the west and Kura Depression (by Kura River) in the east. Together the two mountain regions comprise one of the most biologically rich regions on Earth.
The Caucasus eco-region is ranked as one of the world’s biodiversity “hotspots”, according to both Conservation International and WWF. The area spans over 500,000 square kilometers and hosts endemic variety of animal and plant species from across Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, found nowhere else on the planet.
In present times, the Caucasus is commonly associated with the South Caucasus, which comprises the three independent countries of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. However, the region also includes small portions of Iran and Turkey and North Caucasus region in Russia that slopes up towards the main ridge of the Caucasus Mountains. Less commonly known fact about this frontier region is that it is among the most culturally genuine, historically rich and religiously diverse in the world.
Theorems defining identity and position of Caucasus
There are different schools of thoughts that contend the right position of the Caucasus on the world map. A prominent group of scholars, with genesis in anatomy and anthropology, claim that the origin of white people lay near the Caucasus Mountains, hence they are referred as “Caucasian”. Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, the pioneer of this school of thought, is his medical thesis in 1775 distinguished mankind into five races. For Caucasians, he included nearly all Europeans (except Lapps and Finns), Armenians, Persians, and Hindus, as well as Arabs and Jews. His study, based on examination of 60 skulls, which were collected from different parts of the world, concluded that the Caucasian skull (a Georgian female) was the most beautiful with its picturesque appearance such as having nice-looking symmetry, globular structure, moderate frontal protrusion, and small malar bones when compared with other craniums.
Other early scientists, like Christoph Meiners and Samuel Thomas von Soemmer, worked in a similar line to strengthen this scientific racism theory. In recent times, this theory has been rejected on grounds of spreading racism. However, a group right inclined intellectuals and practitioners (like Giorgi Chelidze, leader of Georgian National Unity and Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia), are perpetuating their commitments by taking advantage of Blumenbach concept of white supremacy. In today’s context, this theory can easily be categorized as ‘flawed’ as the gravity of power has moved from the West to the East.
There is a Russian political definition of labelling the people from Caucasus, which roughly originated from the time of Czar Alexander II conquest in the region. They were seen as criminals, if not barbarians, and residing in a ‘dark’ existence. The Russian political-military intervention was meant to civilize and enlighten the people, whilst also make them subjects of the Russian kingdom. This form of racial degeneration continued during the Soviet times, though in a more silent way. The non-Russians (particularly those of the Caucasus and Central Asia) were described as the Union’s chief beneficiaries and were indebted to their Russian elder brother for their civilized existence. Even under Putin’s Russia, there is a growing far-right public sentiment across the country, and especially among private employers, to discriminate Caucasian people over salary and remuneration related matters. This is not just racism, but a plot to exploit their economic vulnerability.
There is another widely endorsed scheme that puts the western portion of the Caucasus region in Europe and the eastern part in Asia. The western portion comprises the mountainous area in the Krasnador region of Russia and lies on the extreme end of the Caucasus Mountains; whereas, the eastern portion comprises the bulk of Azerbaijan and small portions of Armenia, Georgia, and Russia’s Caspian Sea coast. This scheme can be linked with the geographic theory that positions the Caucasus Mountains as continuation of the Himalayas. According to this theory, the Caucasus Mountain System is a part of the largest Alpine-Himalayan collision zone, which got formed due to late Cenozoic era (up to practically present-day) volcanism.
Still another scheme with adherents, mainly among Georgian and Armenian geographers, locates the continental boundary of Europe along the the Aras River and the Turkish border, thereby putting Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia in the continent. Here it needs to be taken into cognizance that the southern boundary of Europe has changed over the time. In Transcaucasia, only after Russian interventions against a weakened Persian empire made the Aras River a political border between the two empires. This happened at a time when Muscovite Russia was consolidating its position as a part of continental Europe. Prior to that, the Caucasus Mountains, and later the Kura Valley, remained as the limits of Europe for many centuries.
Orientation in the post-Soviet era
Immediately after the breakdown of the erstwhile Soviet Union, there was a fervor among the political elites in the Caucasus, even in Russia for that matter, to connect with the West. This was for a variety of reasons, which included EU’s economic grants and aid packages to the newly independent states (NIS), affinity and high regards towards the European culture and the EU (western) institutions. All South Caucasus countries have attempted to build ties with Europe in the last three decades in their own ways. It is well known that Azerbaijan used lobbying (commonly referred as ‘caviar diplomacy’) to gain support and be part of EU institutions, whereas Georgia has diligently tried to upgrade its national system (both on the political and economic fronts) to the EU stipulated levels. Armenia, which was under a self-imposed isolation in 90s and 2000s decade and a close ally with Russia, has used its diaspora power to connect with different Western countries and sectors. Even Russia under Yeltsin in 1990s and Turkey in 1990s and 2000s, until Erdoğan government realized its EU membership is not getting actualized in early 2010s, attempted to connect and be a part of the West.
In the process, all Caucasus countries, except of Iran, have missed an opportunity to be a part of Asia, which started its stupendous rise in the last quarter of the 20th century and has continued the growth journey till at present. This era has seen the rise of Asian Tigers (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan), China becoming a super power at the world level, India becoming the world’s third largest economy after the US and China and the Asian economy becoming twice as large of the US. In recent years, few countries from the Caucasus, such as Turkey, Azerbaijan and Russia, are reorienting their foreign policy to connect with Asia for they envision a future of higher economic growth and political influence coming from that. Whilst, few others, such as Georgia, have been reluctant to change course and adapt to changing realities. This could result in Georgia losing out the opportunity cost that may come from diversifying the sources of foreign investments and business opportunities, particularly at a time when most European countries will struggle to grow in COVID-normalization phase.
Conclusion
It can be said that the scientific and social (political/ cultural) definitions of the Caucasus have varied with time and space. The region, being geographically situated in Asia, had a glorious past as the continent was way ahead of other parts of the world for most part of known history. During the medieval times, when Europe consolidated its identity, keeping Asia as a point of reference, it attempted to bring in the Caucasus as a frontier land in its borders and ascribed different identities that best suited its changing pursuits and situational necessities.
In the 21st century, when the gravity of power (both economic political and even technological) is moving towards Asia, selected actors from inside the Caucasus and stakeholders from Asia with interest in the region are attempting to rediscover their ancient and present connections.
Author : Hriday Ch. Sarma is the Team-Coordinator of the Caucasus-Asia Center.
[Disclaimer : The views and findings presented in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the center.]
References
https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/genetic/what-does-caucasian-really-mean.htm
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289853743_The_Caucasus_under_Soviet_rule
Kelkitli, Fatma (2008): Russian foreign policy in South Caucasus under Putin, Perceptions 13(4): 73–91: available at http://www.sam.gov.tr/perceptions/volume13/winter/fatma_asli_kelkitli.pdf (*link currently not working)
http://turkishneurosurgery.org.tr/pdf/pdf_JTN_2030.pdf
