A History of Oppression: Russia as a Colonial Power in the Caucasus

Although Russia has pursued an imperial policy in its Eurasian neighbourhood since the early 19th century, the country is not perceived as a colonial power in much of postcolonial discourse - yet its impact is still deeply felt. The Tsarist and later Soviet expansion into Central Asia and especially the South Caucasus continues to shape the region today. Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan remain strategically contested spaces. This episode examines how Moscow’s colonial past drives current conflicts, with insights from Stephan Malerius and Florian Binder of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.