The Russo-Georgian Relationship: Personal Issues or National Interest?, Winter 2010

The Russian-Georgian conflict over South Ossetia in 2008 brought renewed international interest in the South Caucasus. Since the conflict, the Russo-Georgian relationship remains tense and is characterized by threats, recriminations, and mutual suspicion. Those who ignore historical events between Georgia and Russia, assume the personal relationship between the leaders of the two countries is the source of confrontation. This article argues that while personal factors certainly play some role in the “poisonous” relations between the neighboring states, clashing national interests, ideological differences of ruling elites and other important factors also feed into this situation.