ABSTRACT
The emergence of new alliances and unions on a religious basis can lead to completely new political divisions in this and neighboring regions. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the relationship between religion and politics in the Caucasus, and their combined effect on civil strife, assumed greater significance. Many observers on the subject of religion in politics in the region cite as an example the Iranian Islamic revolution, perhaps forgetting the role of Islam in the political history of the mountain peoples of the North Caucasus. The history of Christianity in Georgia began in 337 AD, when shortly after Byzantium accepted Christianity, King Mirian of Karthli introduced Christianity as the state religion of Georgia. Political movements based on religion still play an insignificant role in Transcaucasia. In the North Caucasus the influence of religion is stronger, but not decisive. After seventy years of antireligious propaganda, the strength of religious unity is much weaker than the feeling of ethnic identity.
