PUBLIKATION: Caucasus Analytical Digest, No. 2: Democracy in the South Caucasus, Jan. 15, 2009

The Caucasus Analytical Digest (CAD) is a monthly internet publication jointly produced by the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Tbilisi (www.boell.ge), the Research Centre for East European Studies at the University of Bremen (www.forschungsstelle.uni-bremen.de), the Jefferson Institute in Washington, DC (www.jeffersoninst.org) and the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich with support from the German Association for East European Studies (DGO).

The Caucasus Analytical Digest analyzes the political, economic, and social situation in the three South Caucasus states of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia within the context of international and security dimensions of this region’s development.

CAD is supported by a grant from the Heinrich Boell Foundation and partial funding from the Jefferson Institute.

Editors: Lili Di Puppo, Iris Kempe, Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perović

Internet: www.res.ethz.ch/analysis/cad

This issue of the Caucasus Analytical Digest examines the relation between Azerbaijan's failed attempt at democratization and government control of the country's petroleum industry. In addition, it features opinion polls on the level of trust in institutions of state and society in the countries of the South Caucasus and public interest in politics and civic engagement. An opinion piece discusses the prospects for democratization in post-conflict Georgia, arguing that the regime is now ready to go back on its previous reforms in order remain in power. The issue ends with a chronicle of regional events for the period 16 December 2008 to 13 January 2009.

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Contents

Analysis
Oil Wealth, Patrimonialism, and the Failure of Democracy in Azerbaijan
By Farid Guliyev, Bremen

Opinion Polls
Trust in Institutions of State and Society in the Countries of the South Caucasus

Documentation
Interest in Politics and Civic Engagement in the Countries of the South Caucasus

Opinion
Lost in Democratization and Modernization: What Next in Georgia?
By David Aprasidze, Tbilisi

Opinion Polls
Attitude of the Georgian Population towards Politics

Chronicle
From 16 December 2008 to 13 January 2009