Beyond the Borderland: The Transnational Dimensions of the Abkhaz War

• In Event: Migration and Return amid Conflict and Resettlement in the Post-Soviet Space

Abstract

This paper explores the transnational dimensions of the 1992-1993 Abkhaz War, focusing on the role of the North Caucasian diaspora in shaping and proliferating the conflict. It examines how sustained transnational networks challenge traditional notions of citizenship, how diaspora populations transform the understanding of their struggle across diverse political contexts and opportunity structures, what is presumed to occur once these varied politicized communities interact with one another, and how this shapes civil war and contributes to its escalation. The study will employ a mixed-methods approach, including case study analysis, archival work, and ethnographic fieldwork. This research holds particular significance in enhancing our understanding of seemingly peripheral yet critical barriers to conflict resolution in the region. By probing the intricate transnational dynamics that fueled the war this study aims to contribute to the broader documentation of the conflict.

Author

• Sama Naser Totah, U of Michigan