Federal practice: exploring alternatives for Georgia and Abkhazia

Book abstract:

The negotiations between Georgians and Abkhazians that have taken place since the war of 1992-3 have not led to any results that are considered satisfactory to either party. The Abkhazian authorities refuse any federal arrangement which would establish a subordinated position in the Georgian state, and the Georgian government refuses any kind of agreement which may be considered as a stepping stone to the secession of Abkhazia. The contributors to this volume analyse the historic roots of the conflict and explore the relevance of practical federal experience from various parts of Europe in the regulation of ethnic conflicts. Special attention is given to the distinction between federations and confederations, Russian federalism, the foreign policies of federated states, and the application of territorial and extra-territorial principles in federations.

The book is split into six parts. Part one, 'International perspectives', has a chapter on Western security policies. Part two, 'European experiences', looks in particular at Swiss federalism, the Tartarstan experience and shared sovereignty, Russian style. Part three, 'Foreign policies of federated entities', has chapters on treaty-making powers and foreign relations of federated entities and proposals for a federalisation of foreign policy in Georgia. Part four, 'Federalism, confederalism and consociationalism' includes a review of the recent literature on confederalism. Part five, 'The principles of territoriality and personality', looks at the conflict in Abkhazia and personal federalism. Finally, Part six, 'Constitutional models', looks at proposals for a constitutional model in Georgia and Abkhazia.

Most of the contributions to this book were written after an academic conference on the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in June 1997. The main purpose of the conference was to enable Abkhazian and Georgian researchers, senior officials and politicians to discuss the relevance to their conflict of practical experience in the regulation of ethnic conflicts that has been gained in other parts of Europe. The production of this book, in both Russian and English, is intended to contribute towards a dialogue between the two communities, one which is not confined to scholars or political representatives, but which would involve a wider readership.