Examines the interaction of the small, ancient peoples of the Caucasus with more universal forces such as Christianity, Islam, the modern West, Russian state-building, communism and global capitalism. Concentrates on viewing the region from a security perspective from 1985 to the present. Emphasizes ethnicity and religion and their interaction with the nation-state; territorial conflict, migration and organized crime; energy and pipeline development; the role of the Caucasus in Eurasian strategic alignments; and the relationship of the Caucasus to Europe. Recommended for subfields 2, 4 and 6. (This is a cross-listed course offered by the Russian and Eurasian Studies Program that also can fulfill a requirement for the Asian Studies Program).