Situating the Caucasus
A Fistful of Euros has an interesting post by Doug Muir about whether or not the states of the Caucasus are part of Europe. There are numerous ways of dividing geographical Europe and Asia, but looking at where that line runs through the Caucasus is sure to leave most people a tad off-kilter. This map shows that both Azerbaijan and Georgia are partially within Europe, but that Armenia is entirely outside. Most would surely consider Armenia more European than Azerbaijan, right? Perhaps the lines based on geography make little sense because Europe and Asia are in fact one continent shared by different cultural groups (as is apparently taught some places).
Where to draw the line between Asia and Europe is an interesting question, and one of great policy importance to the European Union. Should geography matter that much? Do Armenia and Georgia qualify as European because they are Christian nations? Will Kazakhstan, which quite clearly aspires to be considered European in just about every way save culture, someday have as strong (or stronger…) a claim to EU membership than Turkey?
Be sure to check out the comments to afoe post.
Stumble it! |
Tags: Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Europe, Geography.
Posted by Nathan on January 5th, 2007
Permalink | Trackback | Comments: 4
Comments
Time: 1/6/2007, 11:06 am
Almost anyway way you slice it, part of Azerbaijan is within Europe. Even when the line is done further north it has a larger percentage of its territory in Europe than Turkey. (Same goes for Kazakhstan.)
Time: 1/6/2007, 10:27 pm
Thanks for the share. Interesting.
I consider Georgia pretty Euro. Armenia a lil bit and Azerbaijan a little less.
Honestly, I am so sick of discussing such categorization…
Time: 1/7/2007, 6:03 am
Historically, Armenia has been thoroughly tied to the Middle East. Its history has had a lot more to do with Iran and Mesopotamia than Russia, and it was definitely part of the Islamic cultural milieu during the Middle Ages rather than Christendom. That said, they seem to have taken the Turkish path in trying to become more European, as seen in the contents of Yerevan’s art gallery and the Yerevan Opera House. I suspect a lot of this also has to do with the Diaspora and what they choose to support financially.
Time: 1/6/2007, 10:01 am
what a stupid map..
Azerbaijan is Europe?????
Then I am Queen Elizabeth!