Russias Historic Role in the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

Romani Kavtaradze

Abstract: This case study examines the escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Besides, it studies a historic evidence of the conflict and introduces the historic background of key regional players’ geostrategic interests in the South Caucasus region, as well as their role in balancing the geostrategic order. It also presents the challenges of diverse and complex cultures and religions of the South Caucasus nations, and promotes the regional level actors to be smarter by using the smart power instruments in foreign policy. The regional partners must strengthen their effort in partnerships, public diplomacy, and soft power institutions in order to meet twenty-first century challenges.

Keywords: Smart power, balance of power, stability, political climate