BIG SHOWDOWNS IN SMALL SCALE: GEORGIA, RUSSIA AND OTHERS

Abstract

Robert Strausz-Hupé defines the tragic aspect of international power struggle as “To be honest, small states has neither a geopolitical nor a geostrategic set; small states constitute a part of geopolitics of the greater ones”. In return, the great powers that desire to have impact on the world economy or politics through geographical factors need the meaningful geography and support of these small states. Georgia does not possess necessary means to become an influential actor in its region due to its population, surface area, natural resources, technological and economic power, and it would be challenging for Georgia to maintain its political existence without the support of geopolitical dynamics. “Being needed” comes first among these dynamics. The events that took place in Georgia in 2008 constituted a strategic turning point guiding the Crimea and Ukraine interventions of Russia in the near future. For Russia, it became the strategic “applicability” criterion of its “tough” policies in the new era. The “Others” did not become effective in the face of the military power of Russia and were not mentioned in the title of this article. This includes Turkey. The geopolitical dynamics affecting Georgia are discussed in the framework of historical development, and their impact on the near political geography, especially on Turkey, is analysed