Russo-Georgian War Research Articles

Cyberwarfare and the challenges it poses to the international governance of armed conflict with particular reference to attribution, distinction, and self-defence.

Cyberwarfare is an emerging form of conflict in the 21st Century. Whether it is considered a domain, a field of weaponry, or capable of being a completely new and separate type of conflict, the international governing community must find a way to protect citizens from its potential damage. International Law may be able to do so, but there are plot holes in existing international law governing armed conflicts in relation to cyber, particularly in regards to the notions of attributability, distinction, and self-defence. This paper uses two case studies, the 2008 Russo-Georgian War and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war to discuss the practical application of international law to cyberwarfare. This is an example of a contemporary form of conflict and how we must work to effectively acknowledge and address it.

Contempt, fear, and hubris: the 2008 Russian–Georgian war through the lens of affect

Contempt, fear, and hubris: the 2008 Russian–Georgian war through the lens of affect

The Transformation of NATO-Russia Relations under the Context of NATO Expansion: From Post-Cold War to the 2014 Crimea Crisis

This paper will examine the transformation of NATO-Russia relations from the post-Cold War stage to the 2014 Crimea crisis. It will specify how NATO's several eastward expansions contributed to the shift of Russia's foreign policy and their bilateral relationship. The analysis will begin with the optimism the Russian side held after the Cold War and the establishment of bilateral cooperation acts such as the Basic Act and the Partnership for Peace. The paper will also analyze the color revolutions that occurred in Ukraine and Georgia, as well as the subsequent 2008 Russo-Georgian War, to examine how Russia's foreign policy has shifted during the 2000s. The paper will then shed light on the Ukrainian crisis in 2014, which ultimately ended the cooperation between Russia and NATO. Through case studies, this paper will examine the shift of Russias foreign policy in the context of NATO's eastward expansion, which has reshaped the geopolitical landscape of Eastern Europe in the past decades.

Security Concerns of the Russian Federation and Türkiye's Position Within the Scope of Georgia Intervention to South Ossetia in 2008

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the geopolitical landscape in the South Caucasus, focusing on Russia's strategic interests, NATO and EU expansion efforts, and Turkey's role as a regional actor. It begins by examining Russia's "Near Environment" doctrine, emphasizing Moscow's perceived security threats and its proactive measures to maintain influence in its immediate surroundings. The 2008 conflict between Russia and Georgia serves as a focal point, illustrating the complex interplay of historical, ethnic, and political factors in the region. The article explores the origins of the Georgian-Ossetian crisis, the escalation into the "Five-Day War," and the subsequent recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Russia. It also examines Turkey's stance on the conflict, balancing support for Georgia's territorial integrity with economic and strategic interests in the region that advocates respect for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty in the context of international law, but at the same time does not ignore its security concerns of Russia and aims to maintain a policy of balance in the Black Sea Basin and the Caucasus in the context of regional peacekeeping. Furthermore, the analysis highlights the international community's response to the conflict and its implications for regional stability. The conclusion underscores the significance of the South Caucasus in global geopolitics, particularly in shaping the balance of power in the Black Sea region. Overall, this article offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of conflict and cooperation in a strategically vital area of Eurasia.

Combat work of firing artillery units in modern armed conflicts

The article reveals the structure of the control system of artillery units, considers the way so fire control of artillery units in armed conflicts during the five-day war in Transcaucasia in 2008, Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, during the Special Military Operation in Ukraine in 2022 and the if impaction the effectiveness of artillery use. Modern reconnaissance means, reconnaissance-fire and strike complexes, their capabilities in fire control are presented, the actions of artillery units in the performance of fire control tasks represented.

Russian adventurism and Central Asian leaders’ foreign policy rhetoric: Evidence from the UN General Debate corpus

How do smaller states position themselves in the biggest diplomatic forum when a regional power with which they share deep economic and political ties is engaged in foreign adventurism with its neighbors? We answer this question by examining how the five Central Asian countries (the “-stans”) have crafted their United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) speeches in the aftermath of three recent instances of Russian foreign adventurism: Russo-Georgian War in 2008, Crimea Annexation in 2014, and the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2022. Our quantitative assessment of the appearance of sovereignty frames in the UN General Debate corpus from 1992 to 2022 suggests that while historically the Central Asian states have refrained from invoking themes related to sovereignty, the recent full-scale invasion of Ukraine has shifted these countries’ position, whereby they no longer keep themselves away from discussions related to state sovereignty. The fact that Central Asian countries are willing to engage in discussions that are not liked by Russia suggests that these countries are attempting to make their concerns about an aggressive regional power known to the global community.

Historical, Theoretical and Methodological Aspects of Conflicts

The present paper deals with the scientific assessment of the origin, prevention and regulation of conflicts as one of the challenging problems in the world. 
 It is common knowledge that conflicts are the concomitant phenomena of human relations and are defined by both subjective and objective attitudes. The study of conflicts dates back to ancient times. In Western science, it is also considered a means of development. Considering these facts, we have discussed and analyzed the opinions of the English philosophers and sociologists along with the standpoints of various scholars like R. Park, L. Coser, G. Simmel, R. Dahrendorf, A. Adler, Z. Freud, etc.
 The present paper discusses the nature, types, and management techniques of conflict as well as the key influencing factors to be taken into account when diagnosing the conflict.
 In addition, the papers emphasizes the crucial importance of negotiations as the best means of communication and the contributing factor to conflict regulation, and draws a parallel between the two relationships - conflict regulation and conflict elimination (when talking about the ways of conflict resolution) that may lay the foundation for a new conflict in the future. 
 The paper provides examples of the development of violent conflict in a non-communicative, unstable, unjust, frightening and extremely negative emotional background that causes severe mental trauma and pain and is passed on to the next generation (For example, the Civil War in Georgia, Conflicts of Abkhazia and the so-called South Ossetia, Russo-Georgian War in August, 2008, etc.).
 Within the framework of the paper, we considered it necessary to analyze peace as the opposite event of conflict and discussed the concept of “dynamic stability” based on the example of August War in Georgia. When approaching the issue of a conflict situation, we identified four types of attitudes: conflict management, resolution, transformation and complete elimination, where the specific conflict situation and environment must be taken into account (For example, the Kosovo conflict in 1999 that was an open conflict resulted in the death and displacement of lots of people). We have noted that such conflicts require both settlement and resolution.
 Thus, scientific assessment of the conflict helps to identify optimal management options. Considering the situational analysis is an important factor for eliminating the local conflicts, so that it does not spiral into a conflict of systemic nature.

Energy Security Aftermath of Russo-Georgian War: Implications for South Caucasus

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Caspian Sea and SouthCaucasus has become the focus of considerable international attention,primary because it is one of the oldest and potentially richestoil and gas producing areas in the world. The August 2008Russian invasion of Georgia and the unilateral recognition of theindependence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia fundamentallychanged the situation in the region. The war has created a newstrategic situation.And the question is now how to handle this delicate situationin a strategically and geopolitically important region. So by controllingGeorgia (in case Russia reaches abovementioned aims),Russia actually will be able to cut off Central Asia and Caspian resources.It means Russia would be able to isolate and cut off Azerbaijanand Central Asian countries and it will significantlystrengthen its energy monopoly over Europe with all results outcoming from that fact. So it’s about a major shift in the energy policyand a major shift in geopolitics based on this energy policy andRussian energy monopoly. The August war in Georgia demonstratedsome risks associated with the functioning of the transitenergy corridor in the southern Caucasus. It also demonstrated theneed for broader security guarantees for a region that is vital toEuropean and global energy security. This paper deals with economicdamage inflicted by the Russo-Georgian war in South Caucasusand its implications for regional security.

External Threats and Authoritarian Backlashes: A Retrospective on Internal Conflicts in Georgian Society After the August War

In the years since the November 2003 Rose Revolution, popularly electedleaders in the Republic of Georgia have responded to organized protestswith repressive tactics. These reactions suggest that former challengers toauthoritarian elites may utilize similar methods of retaining power duringcrisis periods. Yet, the alleged involvement of agencies of the RussianFederation in fomenting domestic instability has also figured prominentlyin the policies of the Saakashvilli government. These conditions culminateddisastrously in the Russian invasion of August 2008. The presentstudy suggests a theoretical model for analyzing international influenceson state-society relations in Georgia since 2003. The model provides a toolfor examining the role of external threats in the relationship between theactivities and strategies of opposition groups and the national securityperceptions and practices of Georgian political elites.

The Role of International Humanitarian Law in Ensuring International Peace on the Example of the 1949 Geneva and 1954 Hague Conventions

The paper analyzes the basic principles of international humanitarian law, maininternational conventions that were adopted within the mentioned framework of the internationallaw. In particular, the article focuses on the Geneva Convention of 1949, which provides for theprotection of civilian population and civilian infrustructure during hostilities, and the Hague Conventionof 1954, which provides for the protection of cultural heritage and historical monumentsduring military actions.The research also discusses the legal foundations of the Russian-Georgian war, using the exampleof violation of the principles of international humanitarian law during the Russian militaryaggression against Georgia in 2008.

"Georgia’s Foreign Policy from Geopolitical Perspective" (2008-2022); Evaluation Based on The James Rosenau’s Foreign Policy Theory

After the Georgian-Russian war in August 2008, the Geopolitical equation for Georgia changed. It lost 20% of its territory. Georgia was an attractive destination for the West from the very beginning of the dissolution of the USSR. Since this country had a suitable geography to replace the energy transfer route to the West, it could achieve membership in NATO and the EU as an Eastern European State. Due to its location between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea, and its Geopolitical superiority, it could open the region to new regional energy projects such as BTC. However, this territorial disintegration suspended Georgia's membership in NATO and the EU, affecting Georgia's foreign policy. Based on the geopolitical characteristics and Rosenau’s foreign policy, which defines the individual and the role of leaders during each government, their decisions reflect differently on the government and society, so the international system is affected by their policies and affecting to their policies. From this viewpoint, the foreign policy of Georgia is derived from the combination of geopolitical elements and James Rosenau’s foreign policy criteria. This descriptive-analytical research is based on data gathering in the library method and it is going to infer the realistic outcomes of foreign policy goals regards to the geopolitics of Georgia based on its leaders' role.

Do domestic institutional actors matter in Georgian foreign policy? Unpacking national role conceptions of bureaucracies and political parties in Georgia

ABSTRACT How do national role conceptions (NRCs) of domestic institutional actors change in response to external and internal shocks? Using role theory in foreign policy analysis, this article explores how bureaucratic agencies and political parties in Georgia respond to shocks, such as the 2008 Russo-Georgian War and changes in political leadership. Content analysis of 18 hand-coded documents, including all security, military, and foreign policy strategies as well as ten party manifestos of three ruling parties of Georgia, shows that NRCs are modified in response to shocks. While bureaucracies are more stable, party responses have varied between radicalisation and compensation strategies.

Cyber Resilience Implications for the Financial System

In August of 2008, cyber-attacks began to affect the Georgian public and private sectors. The cyber-attacks coincided with the Russian Invasion of Georgia, which is also known as the “FiveDay War”. While most of the initial cyber-attacks that were directed against Georgia affected the public sector and media, including various government websites and Georgian news portals, a significant portion of the cyber-attacks affected the Georgian financial system. The cyber-attacks that were directed at the financial system had the effect of bringing down online banking services. In addition, the National Bank of Georgia, which serves as the central bank of Georgia, had its website hacked. As a result of the hack, the official, reference exchange rate of the Georgian Lari to the U.S. Dollar was modified. Luckily, most consumers and other stakeholders were unable to see the unauthorized modification of the exchange rate due to the fact that most of the Georgian internet space was under a distributed denial-of-service attack at the time. If the exchange rate modification on the central bank’s webpage would have been seen by a larger audience, when Internet services are generally readily available to the public, the implications and the impact to the financial system would likely have been much greater. The events of August, 2008 and several other large-scale cyber risk-related incidents have shown that cyber resilience has become an increasingly vital part of financial stability. In addition, the growing use and adoption of electronic information systems in the face of digital transformation of the financial system has clearly brough cyber risk to the forefront of attention. According to the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), cyber resilience is defined as the ability to anticipate, withstand, recover from, and adapt to adverse conditions, stresses, attacks, or compromises on systems that use or are enabled by cyber resources. Financial institutions that make up the financial system, especially those institutions that are deemed as being systemically important to the safe and sound functioning of the economy, need to have relevant governance, management and control processes in order to ensure cyber resilience. Furthermore, cyber resilience also needs to include an aspect of stress testing in the wake of adverse or unexpected events. Without a robust stress testing framework, it will be difficult to gain assurance that an organization such as a commercial bank or a credit union will be able to cope with various cyber risk scenarios. It is therefore important to have a holistic approach towards cyber resilience and cyber risk, in general. This is especially true for the financial system, since it forms the backbone of most national economies. The following paper presents the various aspects of cyber resilience, which need to be considered when analyzing cyber risk within the context of the financial system.

Portrayal of Russian Foreign Policy towards Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014 in the Western and Russian Academia

This study examines how the Russo-Georgian War in 2008 and the Ukraine Crisis in 2014 were discussed in Western and Russian academic circles. The findings show that historical accounts as well as various theoretical frameworks were used to explain the Russian foreign policy (RFP) regarding these conflicts. In comparison, although mono-theoretical models were utilized in both cases, they are more dominant in the works of Western scholars. On the other hand, inductive historical explanations were used more in the works of Russian scholars. Another important point is that in the latter studies, alternative accounts to the Western unilateralism are more popular. These accounts reveal themselves with concepts such as “multipolar world” or “Eurasianism”. As for the mono theoretical accounts, realist approaches seem to be the dominant framework in both cases. Realist frameworks emphasize the improved material capabilities of Russia and external pressures in its sphere of influence. The later component of the realist approach is stressed more by scholars from both academic circles. Moreover, even the studies that utilize different approaches, such as ideational explanations, domestic political factors, decision-maker related approaches, or the ones that highlight the regional competition, emphasize the role of the strategic or geopolitical imperatives as a factor that cannot be ignored regarding how RFP is formed and implemented.

Legitimacy of the OSCE in light of the Russia-Ukraine War

The present work with the classic examples on the surface of regularity evidently illustrates a dangerous situation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the light of the 2022-23 Russia-Ukraine war. Serious questions concerning the legitimacy of the OSCE in the 21st century have been raised by the 2008 Russia-Georgia war when Russia used military force outside its borders for the first time after the collapse of the Soviet Union against another OSCE participating state. In 2022-23, a large-scale confrontation between the two participating states in the half-century history of the OSCE is taking place which makes the future of the OSCE obscure. The conclusions drawn as a result of the research are based upon the review of the latest research works on the basis of the well-known European research centers. The scientific quest of the problem reveals that after the end of the Russia-Ukraine war the OSCE will serve as one of the main platforms for Western-Eastern negotiations which, in turn, would preserve the organization's legitimacy.

The New Cold War: U.S., Russia, P.R. China

This essay seeks to explore major challenges confronting the United States in a new Cold War era. It proposes that the Cold War entered a new phase, post-1991, with the Soviet Union restructured as the Commonwealth of Independent States. Yet, CIS is increasingly a “Ring of Instability” which Russia seeks to remedy by supporting pro-Russian factions and building new buffer zones after the Russia-Georgia War in 2008, annexing Crimea in 2014, and invading Ukraine in 2022. But P.R. China’s quest for world dominance via extension of “soft power” and “unrestricted warfare” poses an even greater challenge to the Free World. The U.S. confronts a Sino-Russian axis and their client states--North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cuba--sharing a Marxist-Leninist ideology and totalitarian one-party systems wrapped in nationalism. While healing its internal social divisions due to identity politics, the U.S. needs to reclaim its technological lead, rebuild its manufacturing, and strengthen alliances, where its partners need to take on greater responsibility for the common defense.

Rusko-gruzijski petodnevni rat

The Russian-Georgian five-day war represents not only an extremely interesting military phenomenon, but also sheds light on the challenging corridors of the complex geopolitical framework in the South Caucasus region. Although this five-day war is relatively often mentioned in the domestic public during various military and political analyses, it is noticeable that there is no adequate fund of scientific papers and other professional analyzes that would follow this dynamic and level of interest. Certain events of a complex structure and character, which certainly includes a war, even a five-day one, require a certain time distance and passage of time, in order to create the conditions to draw objective conclusions, which would be useful in both scientific and social meaning. Although at that time this war seemed, conditionally speaking, as a fairly simple and successful operation of the Russian armed forces, it actually brought to the surface all the anomalies, not only of the Russian army, but also of the Russian society as a whole, with its multi-layered analysis. This contributed to the Russian state leadership making important decisions and making certain systemic changes, which brought progress to the Russian side, and added worries to the opponents. From the characteristics of this war, many other countries can also draw certain experiences, primarily for the most effective protection of their sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Young People and Collective Trauma in Georgian Fiction about The Abkhazian War and The 2008 Russo-Georgian War

Abstract: The ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia has brought the attention of Western academic discourses to the long history of Russian colonialism, cultural dominance, and military aggression. Ukraine has not been the only victim of Russian invasions in the last few decades. The following article depicts the voice of Georgia, a small country with a population of 3.7 million people that has also experienced the horror of war from its neighbors. This article focuses on studying the depictions of traumatized adolescents with the use of trauma theory and children's literature studies in two texts about the Abkhazian war (1992–1993) and the 2008 Russo-Georgian war: Nugzar Shataidze's "Journey to Africa" (2004) and Tamta Melashvili's Counting Out (2010). This article showcases that the discussed narratives reflect global trends in children's literature and literary trauma theory. I argue that Georgian fiction fits the pluralistic approach of the literary trauma theory, delineating individual stories intertwined with culturally and socially specific narratives. The examined texts are replete with geographic places, social values, and specific environments that shape Georgian society's collective trauma. Besides, adolescents are the central figures that expose the psychological, physical, and mental suffering that wars bring to society.

Հայաստանի Հանրապետության կառավարող էլիտայի անվտանգային սպառնալիքների ընկալումները Թուրքիայի ու Ադրբեջանի հետ փոխհարաբերություններում 2008-2016 թթ.,

The purpose of the article is to find out the dynamics of security threat perceptions among the ruling elite of Armenia from the 2008 Russian-Georgian war to the 2016 April four-day war. The internal structural problems and the existing threats in the relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan were singled out, as defined by the ruling elite. Through discourse analysis the speeches, texts, interviews and other formats of public speech by president Serzh Sargsyan and Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian, as well as, in case of strong relevance, other key actors representing the ruling elite were collected and analyzed. The importance of the research purpose is that the perceptions of threat, as assessed by the elites, is the most important foundation for formulating foreign and defense policies and/or informing their assessment.

GRAND STRATEGY AND MILITARY IMPLICATIONS OF NEW RUSSIA’S MILITARY DOCTRINE IN 21ST CENTURY: GEOSTRATEGIC ASPECTS OF HYBRID WARFARE STRATEGY AGAINST GEORGIA AND UKRAINE

: A paper reflects new dimensions of New Cold War geostrategic balance implications at pan-regional (European) and regional (Black Sea) levels that already has been transformed into classical hybrid warfare between the Russian Federation and NATO due to the Russia’s invasion into Ukraine. Currently adopted military doctrine of the Russian Federation envisages engagement into two military conflicts simultaneously and constructed its strategic operational framework founded on incorporation of three combat elements: military, non-military and information warfare measures and proper concepts. Hence, it means that Russia can begin war-game scenarios at the same time against two neighboring nations as it occurs at time being against Ukraine and Georgia. At that respect, the incumbent Russian military leadership in aegis of so-called “Gerasimov Doctrine” is promoting hybrid warfare as a key dominant grand strategy with relevant theater strategy and operational art elements (for instance, operational – strategic command HQ “South” and 5 Army Corp HQs). The military “muscle” could easily skew and twist European security environment that is much unprepared to the geostrategic challenge – Crimea occupation and annexation in 2014, war with Georgia in 2008, hybrid attack to Estonia in 2007 and very recently large-scale military intervention in Azov Sea and pending regional hegemony conditions in Caspian Basin. These military asymmetric challenges and risks deriving from the arms race derailed by the Russia’s incumbent authority, and security dilemma embroiled with by the elements of WMD are sufficient indications why the European security is plausible fragile against such challenges. From academic standpoint, the thesis deals in analyzing with the most dangerous threat targeting the European security architecture – asymmetric military challenge and realization of which is pursued in wagging hybrid war against Georgia and Ukraine. The new type of warfare is a probe stone perfected against these two post-Soviet nations indicates and poses real menace, mainly geostrategic origin, easily targeted NATO member-states, including Poland. The article predisposes reflection and understanding true meaning of so-called “Gerasimov Doctrine” and the whole new version of Military Doctrine of Russia and how it is implemented at the stage. A shift transformation takes place in realms of contemporary century warfare doctrinal planning and the transformation has already implicated of identifying new type of warfare strategy – asymmetric war with representation of hybrid warfare that contributing in re-shaping a grand strategy that allows policymakers to steer through the uncertainties of a complex international security environment; Elaboration real content and new definition of “hybrid war” and its dualfold implications how to quell and deal with asymmetric military challenges and risks and how to cause the challenges on its matter. Moreover, it describes and review reformatting modality in planning and wagging war due to the military technology development that contributed to a far more complicated strategic environment for war than that of previous century. In that respect is to be identified new style of warfare – Urbanistic warfare presented in 2008 August Russia-Georgia war as well as in war in Ukraine (Mariupol battle) new definition of the warfare in general matter.