The Georgia-Abkhazia conflict: critical factors shaping the present stalemate

On August 7th, 2008, Georgia attempted to militarily reassert control over South Ossetia, one of its separatist republics, thus provoking a massive Russian invasion and Georgia's rapid defeat. Russia used the opportunity provided by the Georgian provocation to consolidate its hold over Georgia's two breakaway regions, ultimately recognizing them as legitimate, sovereign states, and thus increasing its power and influence in the region. The West was left reeling, unable to stop Russia or persuade the separatist republics to reconsider federation; the conflict in Georgia has shelved any hopes of a peaceful solution that respected Georgia's "territorial integrity." This conflict was neither random nor inevitable; rather, this thesis will argue that it was the result of a history of oppression by both Georgian and Abkhaz of the other, weak and corrupt states in Georgia and Abkhazia, the purposeful Russian destabilization of the region, and a significant refugee and demographic problem. This thesis will examine the impact that these factors have had on shaping the conflict situation, and it will seek to gain a better understanding of this suddenly unfrozen conflict, in the hope of successfully dealing with other conflicts in the former Soviet sphere before they erupt into war