Geopolitical dimensions of Armenian ethno-national expansionism in the South Caucasus
Abstract
Referring to the genesis of Armenian historical claims, we proceed from the widely acknowledged paradigm that the "Armenian idea" is a multi-layered phenomenon, which includes many political, socio-economic and ideological-psychological contexts. All of these components are invisibly present in the genesis of the conflicts of the Armenian people with neighbouring nations and states.
The ethno-political space of the Armenian people has always been characterised by a very complex and intricate set of problems and contradictions, which have often led to wars, deportations and violent disputes between different ethnic groups and states.
The historical mission of the Armenian nation, prompted by the entire course of its development, has the aim of appropriating the territories of neighbouring nations and countries.
Through the fault of the Armenian patriarch,[1] the effort to create a Georgian-Armenian federal state failed in the second half of the 18th century. Therefore, the new Armenian national leaders gave special importance to Russia, which emerged in the geopolitical struggle for the Caucasus.
By the end of the 18th century, the formation of a secret Russian-Armenian geopolitical alliance began, which had as its goal the creation of an Armenian state in the Caucasus on the territories of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.
The Armenians had grandiose dreams, which they abandoned only in 1920, of a gigantic Armenia, bathed by three seas - from Adana to Trabzon - and stretching as far as Baku. Such an Armenian state could only be created at the expense of the territories of neighbouring states, only on the blood of those peoples who had once sheltered and settled them on their lands.[2]
Between 1828 and 1830, under Russian patronage, 40,000 Iranian and 100,000 Turkish Armenians were resettled in the South Caucasus. We note the fact that the vast majority of the settlers were settled in the mountainous regions of Karabakh and the southern regions of Georgia.[3]
Throughout the second half of the nineteenth century, Russia planned to further expand and develop its conquest and offensive policy in the southern direction. Russia again tried to use Armenians in its policy and promised them the establishment of Armenian statehood on the new territory. The struggle of Armenians in Turkey for their 'national independence' began, at times escalating into a real war. This Armenian movement later became known as the 'Armenian Question'.
References
The Armenian patriarch, fearing the loss of his meagre land holdings, betrayed the Armenian national idea by informing the Shah of Persia of the intentions of the Georgian king Irakli II;
It is known that Georgian kings over the centuries provided Armenians with land in various regions of Georgia;
Ballayev A. Azerbaijani national movement in 1917-1918, Baku, 1998, p. 25; G.R.Markhulia. Administrative policy of the Russian empire in the South Caucasus and the issues of Armenian-Georgian antagonism. Tbilisi, 2004. p.19; G.R.Markhulia;
The War of 1877-1878, vol.III, The war in Asian Turkey. Edited by A. Zykov. SPb, 1881, pp. 416-417;
I.B.Najafov. History of Armenian Nationalism in Transcaucasus at the end of XIX -beginning of XX centuries. Baku, 1993, p. 39;
Ibid;
F. Martens. Collection of treaties and conventions concluded by Russia with foreign countries, vol.XII, Saint-Petersburg, 1898, p.116 ff;
V. Gurko-Kryazhin. Armenian problem. BSE, vol.III, Moscow, 1926, p. 7;
V. Gurko-Kryazhin. Armenian question. TSЭ. v. III, m.,1926, p.7;
A. Darbinyan. Armenia in the days of national liberation. Memories (1890-1940). Paris, 1947, p. 119;
Ibid, p. 125;
Ibid;
Thus, in August 1887 another nationalist party called "Hnchak" was organised in Geneva. (See History of the Gnchak Party (1887-1962). Beirut, 1962);
G.R.Markhulia.On the "Armenian Question" in the South Caucasus. Tbilisi, 2004, p.21.
M.Neyman. Armenians. Iravan, 1990, p.176 ff;
S. S. Stepanyan. Armenia in the Politics of Imperialist Germany. (End of XIX - the beginning of XX century). Yerevan, 1975, p. 110.
A. Mansurov. White Spots of History and Perestroika. Baku, 1990, pp. 56-57;
Ibid;
Khalachoglu Yusuf. Armenian Resettlements and Realities (1914-1918). Published by the Institute of Turkish History. Ankara, 2001, p. 70.