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Tbilisi and the Bear

The Rise of Russian Influence in the Republic of Georgia

James J. Coyle

Series: Bibliotheca Iranica: The Iranian Heritage in the Caucasus and Central Asia 3
Availability: Forthcoming
Published: 2025
Page #: xii + 414
Size: 6 x 9
ISBN: 978-1568594132
bibliography, index, notes, references

Quick Overview

The Republic of Georgia emerged anew with the collapse of the Soviet Union, embarking on a transformative journey to establish a pro-Western democracy. For over two decades, successive Georgian leaders sought closer integration with the European Union and NATO, positioning the country as a beacon of democratic aspiration in the South Caucasus. Yet in recent years, Georgia has experienced a significant political shift, stepping back from its EU ambitions in favor of cultivating deeper economic and political ties with Russia.


This volume investigates the forces behind this dramatic realignment, offering a comprehensive analysis of Georgia’s evolving national strategy from political, military, economic, and diplomatic perspectives. It aims to uncover not only the internal dynamics that have influenced the country's path, but also the external pressures shaping its future.


The book is structured in three parts to guide readers through the complexities of Georgia’s modern history. Part I presents a concise historical overview, tracing Georgia’s development from ancient times to the re-establishment of independence in 1991. Special attention is given to the influence of neighboring powers—particularly Russia and Iran—in shaping Georgian identity, sovereignty, and statehood.


Part II chronicles the formative years of independence, examining Georgia’s political evolution, its aspirations for Western integration, and the internal and external challenges it faced—including the Rose Revolution and the build-up to the 2008 war with Russia.


Part III analyzes the period from the 2008 invasion to the present, highlighting the increasing polarization within Georgian politics, the shifting public sentiment regarding EU and NATO membership, and the renewed orientation toward Russia amidst geopolitical tensions.


Written for both scholars and general readers, this book offers a rich, multidimensional portrait of Georgia’s complex and often turbulent journey. Whether you are a student of international relations, a policy analyst, or simply interested in the geopolitics of the Caucasus, this work provides critical insights into one of the most strategically significant—and misunderstood—countries in the region.

author

James J. Coyle

James Coyle has held a number of positions in the federal government, including director of Middle East studies at the US Army War College; first secretary for political-military affairs at the US Embassy in Ankara; senior political analyst for Palestinian affairs; and special assistant to the FBI/New York Joint Terrorism Task Force. He is co-author of Culture and Conflict in the Middle East published in December 2003 by Prentice-Hall, and the author of Russia’s Interventions in Ethnic Conflicts:  the case of Armenia and Azerbaijan (New York:  Palgrave Macmillan, 2020) and Russia’s Border Wars and Frozen Conflicts (New York:  Palgrave Macmillan, 2017).

Coyle speaks and/or reads Turkish, Persian, French, and German in various degrees of proficiency.

Coyle's areas of teaching expertise include: national security strategy, Middle East politics, issues in intelligence, comparative politics, international relations, American politics, European and Eurasian politics.

Coyle received his bachelor of science in foreign service from Georgetown University, his master's degree in public administration from Temple University, and a PhD in political science from George Washington University. His dissertation topic was nationalism in Iranian province of Kurdistan.

Coyle is an independent consultant on national security affairs with a heavy public-speaking schedule.

CONTENTS

Foreword
Preface

Part One: Pre-Independence

Chapter 1: Roots of the Conflict. Geography
Demographics and Early History

Part Two: Georgian Independence - 2008

Chapter 2
The Military Face of a Frozen Conflict

Chapter 3
The Politics of Frozen Conflict

Chapter 4
The Economics of Frozen Conflict

Chapter 5
Diplomacy Surrounding Frozen Conflict

Chapter 6
Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Part 3: 2008-Present

Chapter 7
The Military Face of Frozen Conflict

Chapter 8
The Political Face of Frozen Conflict

Chapter 9
The Economics of a Frozen Conflict

Chapter 10
The Diplomatic Face of a Frozen Conflict:

Chapter 11
Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Epilogue

Bibliography
Index
About the Author

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