The United States-Russian Relations in post-Cold War Era: the Hidden Cold War in South-Caucasus (1991-2008)

ABSTRACT: The thesis is going to analyze the United States-Russian Relations during the post- Cold War Era with implications for South-Caucasus, since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It is believed that in post-Cold War international relations, particularly in South-Caucasus, there is still a fundamental political antagonism between the United States and Russian Federation. Hence, the core questions that the thesis will try to examine are the main reasons behind this rivalry between US and Russia. A clear demonstration of this enmity between two sides became obvious after the war between Georgia and Russia in last summer of 2008. In addition, the reasons and consequences of the war between Russia and Georgia in summer 2008 will be mentioned. Georgia is a country that falls into the Russian “near-abroad” foreign policy goal. Inevitably, it will include the revived form of classical strategy of US called “neo-containment” of Russia on/over its expansionistic strategy of sphere of influence in post-Cold War era. Of course it is impossible not to mention the reasons behind the US’ strategy of containing Russia, whereby, it was formulated as a reaction to Russia’s intention to recover Russia’s greatness in world affairs and the 1expansion of its spheres of influence into the “near-abroad” at the expense of its neighbor states. As a result of the disintegration of the USSR, (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), three NIS’s (Newly Independent States) emerged in the South Caucasus; Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. However, these three states faced enormous political, economic and military challenges. Hence, in this context, the political, military, energy, socio-ethnic and economic developments in the South Caucasus will be observed, particularly Georgia as a case study. Within these parameters indicated above, US, Russian and Georgian foreign policies will be examined in the Post Cold war era. Considerations will be given mainly to the policies taken during George W. Bush’s and Vladimir Putin’s administrations i.e. (2000-2008). ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………