Publication

This report addresses the long-running conflict between Georgia and its secessionist province of South Ossetia before the background of renewed violence in August 2004. The paper outlines the underlying causes of the conflict, including historical, geopolitical and political-economic causes. Subsequently, the paper analyzes ways to unfreeze the conflict, it asks whether it is an intra-state conflict or a conflict between Georgia and Russia and presents options for conflict alleviation. The paper argues that attempts to resolve the conflict swiftly will lead to war.