Analysis of Russian Foreign Policy in the South Caucasus based on Gene-geopolitics

Gene-geopolitics or genetically geopolitics is one of the new issues in critical geopolitics. According to this issue, the hegemony of a state on a regional and trans-regional scale must impart cultural and historical homogeneity. Talking about hegemony is not possible without homogeneity and it is just being referenced to hard power, intimidation, and military potentialities. South Caucasia region includes three states of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia. The position of communication of this region with the surrounding environment throughout history has shown that the pipelines for transferring energy resources are a determining factor in its special geopolitical and geo-economics conditions. The South Caucasus which is located in southwestern Russia is one of Russia’s peripheral or the so-called “near-Abroad” environments. The region has an important role in the Eurasianism policy of Russia and Moscow has tried to prevent the dominion effect of Ukraine developments. This paper by adopting the descriptive-analytical method tries to answer this question that what is the hegemonic status of Russia concerning the significance of south Caucasia in its foreign policy? For now, Russia is considered a central power in the region and has gained considerable influence into the three states of south Caucasia. In gene-geopolitical attitude, it seems that Russia hasn’t irremovable hegemony in south Caucasia and its semi-hegemony is connected to rivalry space of Western states and Eurasianism. As a whole, Russia’s hard power in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia will be challenged in the future through reasonable assumptions. Problem: after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia applied the policy of non-interference in its external environment for about a decade. From the time when Vladimir Putin seized power, Russia’s geopolitical codes were strengthened and revived again in continuation of the Soviet Union foreign policy. The growing importance of the Caspian Sea, its geo-economics issues, the investment, and the unprecedented presence of western powers in the newly independent states, have convinced Russian authorities to begin their presence in the external environment. Therefore, Russian foreign policy was empowered based on Eurasianism and the country tried using both hard and software tools to influence its peripheral states. The Caucasus is one of Russia’s peripheral environments or the so-called “near-abroad”. Russia has sought intervention in this region, directly and indirectly, to solidify its influence in its rivalry with the West, particularly with those of the US policies. The growing need of the countries in this region for energy extraction and finding a suitable market, has provided suitable space for Russia’s presence. However, attractive investments by Russia’s rivals, such as the European Union and the United States as well as Russia’s dependence on the sale of its energy resources, are among challenges that have made its foreign policy vulnerable in the South Caucasus. On the other hand, the lack of iconographic and spiritual elements in the Soviet Union seems to be one of the main reasons for its dissolution. Accordingly, the Soviet Union failed to establish a national identity among its members. The lack of a common history, myth, and culture that are components of gene-geopolitics paved the way for its dissolution. Nowadays, in the critical geopolitical approach, the iconographic elements that play a spiritual and cultural role in building societies have regained importance. These elements act like cement on the side of the material and connect the components firmly and durable to each other. Thus, in some respects, the lack of iconographic elements in Russian foreign policy is one of the challenges that has prevented its deep penetration into its surroundings. The authors of this article try to examine Russia’s foreign policy in the South Caucasus from a gene-geopolitical point of view qualitatively based on description and analysis. This region is one of Russia’s buffer zones in competition with the West. According to the mentioned point, there is a strong hardware and software presence in these three countries. How successful Russia’s foreign policy has been in the South Caucasus is a question that will be examined from a gene-geopolitical point of view. Question: what is Russia’s foreign policy in the South Caucasus from a gene-geopolitical point of view? Hypothesis: it seems that Russia in the South Caucasus has no hegemony. Therefore, its presence in the South Caucasus is due to the competition with Western powers and the pursuing policies of Eurasianism. Thus, Russia’s hardware presence in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia is likely to be challenging. in this article, the authors have studied the issue and hypothesis of the article with a qualitative method based on description and analysis. Moscow’s policy in the Caucasus energy sector has focused on the Republic of Azerbaijan, in the military fields the focus is on Armenia and in controlling the West’s behavior in the region it has focused on strategic competition in Georgia. Russia’s foreign policy, despite its multiple layers and constant flexibility, has no hegemonic burden. It is due to the history, culture, and ideologies of the Caucasus region. Russia has always tried to suppress them by maintaining its superior military rite. Russia's geoeconomic policies in the region also face challenges. Because Russia’s economy relies on oil and gas, it is not an attractive customer for regional oil sellers. Russia’s military rhetoric seeks to hardware domination in the South Caucasus. Due to the structural constraints, all three countries in the region are pursuing an alignment in policy with Russia. Armenia relies militarily on Moscow due to its territorial enmity with the republic of Azerbaijan. Besides, Tbilisi’s policies in recent years have shown this country’s serious desire to join NATO. The Republic of Azerbaijan, with its nationalist policies, is a reliable partner for Turkey, Israel, and the United States. That is why Baku’s Western policy is more intense, but Russia has not given up on its energy presence. Russia’s military support for Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has complicated Russian-Azeri relations. Azerbaijan’s energy policy in recent years has shown that the presence of the European Union to invest in Azerbaijan’s energy sector has been a challenge to Russia’s policy in Baku. Georgia as an example of a complex hardware implementation of Russia’s foreign policy like Ukraine has experienced growing instability. Historical deterioration in Russia-Georgia relations, along with growing US efforts to narrow Russia’s geopolitical depth in the South Caucasus, has exacerbated Moscow’s challenge in Georgia. So the lack of gene-geopolitical structures in Russia has made it difficult for the country to operate in the South Caucasus.