Realizing that it would be impossible to control predominantly Georgian-population areas, they apparently resolved there should be no population at all. Policy Recommendations History. The long history of inter-ethnic conflict in Abkhazia does not mean it is fueled by the mysterious vitality of ancient hatreds. At fault most recently are the longer-term conflictual trends that resulted from the initial success of communist nationality policies. In a nutshell, we must revamp historical education and actively intervene in reframing popular perception.
History is too important a political factor to be left to local nationalist intellectuals.
The modern cycles of violence in the Caucasus and the Balkans are clearly pegged to cycles of state creation and breakdown. It is therefore vital to create new states in the area. Yet it is clear this will not happen without integrating the troublesome zones of the Balkans and the Caucasus into much larger entities, possibly the European Union or a renewed, market-based Russian sphere. In turn, the shape and the outlook of the newest Russian empire will depend on the character of Russia's integration into the world system. The noisy boom occurring in Sochi, across the Russian border from desolate Abkhazia, suggests the likely takeover by new Russian capital.