Why mediation attempts in the Nagorno – Karabakh region failed

: 1991-2016

Abstract

The territorial conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Nagorno – Karabakh wasconsidered as the frozen one until the end of 2020, when it was finally resolved. Unfortunately, not the effective mediation, but warfare helped to end this dispute. This dissertation is an analysis of failed mediation attempts in the Nagorno –Karabakh region from the beginning of the conflict (1987-88) until 2016. Chapter one focuses on the theory of Old and New Wars, giving the reader clear image about disputes that have become more complicated. The significant number of unresolved conflicts in former Soviet Union republics is the best evidence of it. Chapter two gives the reader brief theoretical framework about conflict stages andmediation process. I also presented opinions of both Azerbaijan and Armenia as well ascauses and stages of the dispute in Nagorno – Karabakh.Finally, in the third chapter you can see deep analysis of failed mediation attempts byvarious political agents: states, organizations or individuals. In order to understand measures that had been taken in order to resolve the conflict, I use theoretical typology of dispute prevention. Moreover, I try to investigate if religion or location of the particular actors have an impact on opinion towards the dispute.

Date of Award	17 Jan 2022
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Mónica Dias (Supervisor)