Cosmopolitan peace in the Caucasus : an analysis of the theory as applied to ethnic conflict

Abstract

“Cosmopolitan Peace in the Caucasus” is an examination of the theory of cosmopolitan peace, as synthesized by Erin Ryan. The theory is applied to two ethnic conflicts in the Caucasus—Nagorno-Karabakh and Abkhazia—to determine if grass roots peace processes, beginning in local civil society and rising through the involvement of regional and international NGOs, will have a significant impact on state level peace negotiations. The theory asserts that the grass roots push will have such an effect, but the evidence has thus far demonstrated that although the nongovernmental peace efforts are complementary to the state level peace processes, they have not yet had the expected influence.