ABSTRACT
For most of the twentieth century, the Caucasus was part of the Soviet Union. The USSR formed one single country, with no demarcated internal borders, and was subject to a single administrative and judicial system. During perestroika, national movements had freedom of operation, which resulted in the three South Caucasian republics declaring independence. However, the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian authorities do not see this independence as a new phenomenon, but rather as the restoration of the republics that existed from 1918 until 1921. Indeed, there are several visible parallels between the new and those earlier republics: similar flags, national anthems, national holidays, etc. The North Caucasus also witnessed a number of national and liberation movements. This often led to conflict, but in the end none of them were able to obtain more than a limited degree of autonomy within the Russian Federation.
