The Problem of Internally Displaced Persons in the South Caucasus: An Assessment of the European Union's Approach

While the international system has reshaped following the collapse of Soviet Union, the rise of nationalism and ethnic groups' tendencies for self-determination in the Caucasus has been a vital factor triggering conflicts in the South Caucasus. The resolution of conflicts in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh and forced displacement problem is crucial for building regional peace and stability. The expectations from the European Union (EU) as stabilizing external force and mediator in the regional conflicts have also increased. Yet, the EU's effectiveness is limited in this sense. The European Neighbourhood Policy can't create the expected impact. This research underlines the displacement problem in terms of three cases analysing the EU's role in the region by explaining the close link between displaced persons and conflict resolution.