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A. Jaffalian (Ed.), Reassessing Security in the South Caucasus, Ashgate, 2011.Lying on the periphery of Europe, Russia, Turkey and Iran, and also being of interest to the United States, the South Caucasus is receiving growing attention among decision-makers and scholars of international relations. From a European perspective, the region is now forming a neighbouring area at the border of the Black Sea, as well as a corridor of oil and gas imports whose stability has become part of European security itself. As such, this volume reassesses security in the South Caucasus. It makes it possible to update analysis on security interests, perceptions and policies at national, regional and international levels through cross-national studies. Aimed at highlighting long-term defence and security trends in the region, contributors re-examine their relevance and enduring impact. They also identify changing dynamics under recent geopolitical and political developments in and around the region such as: the enlargements of NATO, the August 2008 Russia-Georgia war, the creation of the EU Eastern Partnership or Presidential elections. One of this volume's distinct contributions is that chapters have been written by experts from inside and around the region, i.e. Armenia, Georgia, Russia and Turkey, with other important contributions provided by authors from France and Canada having extensive experience in the area. Students and scholars of post-Soviet states, Eurasian geopolitics and European Security will find this volume enlightening.Contents: Preface; Introduction, Annie Jafalian; Part I Risks, Threats and Conflict Settlement: Georgia-Russia conflict in August 2008: war as the continuation of politics, Thornike Gordadze; Unfreezing conflict in South Ossetia: regional and international implications, Sergey Markedonov; Armenia's national security: external threats, domestic challenges, Richard Giragosian; Breaking the deadlock: Karabakh, Nabucco and the Madrid principles, Hayk Kotanjian. Part II Cooperation with Regional Neighbours: Toward a New Balance?: Azerbaijan in the changing status quo: adaptation strategies, Burcu Gültekin-Punsmann; Armenia: managing new opportunities for regional integration, Alexander Iskandaryan and Sergey Minasyan; Georgia's national security and regional policy after the August 2008 war, Nika Chitadze; Changing dynamics of Turkish foreign and security policies in the Caucasus, Mustafa Aydin; Iran's foreign policy towards the South Caucasus: between revolutionary ideals and realpolitik, Clément Therme. Part III Integration into the Eurasian Community: Taking Stock: Nato's engagement in the South Caucasus: looking for energy security or expanding norms and values?, Pierre Jolicoeur and Frédéric Labarre; The European Union's policy in the South Caucasus: in search of a strategy, Laure Delcour; Armenia's foreign and security policy: is complementarity possible?, Tevan Poghosyan; Balancing vs. bandwagoning: explaining Georgia's alignments in security institutions, Levan Tsutskiridze; Conclusion, Annie Jafalian; Index.About the Editor: Annie Jafalian, Université Jean Moulin - CLESID, FrancecontentsList of Figures, Tables and Maps vii List of Abbreviations ix List of Contributors xi Preface xv Acknowledgements xviiIntroduction 1Annie JafalianPART I Risk, Threats and Conflict Settlement 1 Georgia-Russia Conflict in August 2008: War as a Continuation of Politics 11 Thornike Gordadze2 Unfreezing Conflict in South Ossetia: Regional and International Implications 33 Sergey Markedonov3 Armenia’s National Security: External Threats, Domestic Challenges 47Richard Giragosian4 Breaking the Deadlock: Karabakh, Nabucco and the Madrid Principles 65 Hayk KotanjianPART II Cooperation with Regional Neighbours: Towards A new Balance?5 Azerbaijan in the Changing Status Quo: Adaptation Strategies 75Burcu Gültekin-Punsmann6 Armenia: Managing New Opportunities for Regional Integration 91Alexander Iskandaryan and Sergey Minasyan7 Georgia’s National Security and Regional Policy after the August 2008 War 105 Nika Chitadze8 Changing Dynamics of Turkish Foreign and Security Policies in the Caucasus 117 Mustafa Aydin9 Iranian Foreign Policy towards the South Caucasus: Between Revolutionary Ideals and Realpolitik 137 Clément ThermePART III Integration Into The Eurasian Community: Taking Stock 10 Nato’s Engagement in the South Caucasus: Looking for Energy Security or Expanding Norms and Values? 157 Pierre Jolicoeur and Frédéric Labarre11 The European Union’s Policy in the South Caucasus: In Search of a Strategy 177 Laure Delcour12 Armenia’s Foreign and Security Policy: Is Complementarity Possible? 195 Tevan Poghosyan13 Balancing vs. Bandwagoning: Explaining Georgia’s Alignments in Security Institutions 209 Levan TsutskiridzeConclusionAnnie Jafalian Index223