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Journals / Review of Armenian Studies / 2026 / Issue: 54

FROM BORDER DISPUTES TO CONFLICT:THE ARMENIA -GEORGIA WAR (1918)

Mehdi Salimov(Marmara University)0000-0002-7371-4368
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-10-27
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Keywords: Transcaucasia, Georgia, Armenia, Georgian-Armenian War, Dashnak Government

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Özet Kafkasya, tarih boyunca jeopolitik konumu ve zengin yer altı kaynakları nedeniyle büyük güçlerin sürekli ilgisini çeken bir bölge olmuş ve bu durum onu sıklıkla askeri ve siyasi çatışmaların merkezine yerleştirmiştir.
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Key Findings & Data:Özellikle 1917 Ekim Devrimi sonrasında Rusya İmparatorluğu’nun dağılmasıyla bölgede yeni siyasi aktörler ortaya çıkmış ve bu aktörler arasındaki güç mücadelesi, çeşitli savaşlara zemin hazırlamıştır.
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Conclusion & Impact:Keywords: Transcaucasia, Georgia, Armenia, Georgian-Armenian War, Dashnak Government
🔬Design:Experimental Field Trial
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Transcaucasia · Georgia · Armenia

Abstract

Özet Kafkasya, tarih boyunca jeopolitik konumu ve zengin yer altı kaynakları nedeniyle büyük güçlerin sürekli ilgisini çeken bir bölge olmuş ve bu durum onu sıklıkla askeri ve siyasi çatışmaların merkezine yerleştirmiştir. Özellikle 1917 Ekim Devrimi sonrasında Rusya İmparatorluğu’nun dağılmasıyla bölgede yeni siyasi aktörler ortaya çıkmış ve bu aktörler arasındaki güç mücadelesi, çeşitli savaşlara zemin hazırlamıştır. Bu bağlamda, 1918 yılı Ekim-Aralık ayları arasında Ermenistan ile Gürcistan arasında yaşanan savaş, dönemin en dikkat çekici bölgesel çatışmalarından biridir. Ermeni Taşnak yönetimi, Osmanlı ordusunun Mondros Mütarekesi sonrası bölgeden çekilmesiyle oluşan otorite boşluğunu değerlendirmiş; komşu halkların topraklarını hedef alan yayılmacı politikalarını hayata geçirmiştir. Savaşın temel nedeni, Taşnakların maksimalist toprak talepleri ve bu talepler doğrultusunda uygulamaya koyduğu saldırgan stratejilerdir. Ancak bu yaklaşım, hem Ermenistan’ın bölgedeki diplomatik yalnızlığını artırmış hem de ciddi insani kayıplara neden olmuştur. Ermenistan, savaş sürecinde ekonomik ve toplumsal açıdan derin bir çöküş yaşamış; gıda, ilaç ve temel yaşam malzemelerine erişim büyük ölçüde imkânsız hâle gelmiştir. Ülkede adeta bir insani felaket yaşanmıştır. Büyük Britanya’nın bölgeye müdahalesi, Ermenistan’ın yıkımdan kurtulmasında belirleyici olmuş; savaşın durdurulmasıyla birlikte kısa süreli bir denge sağlanabilmiştir. Bu savaş, Ermeni milliyetçiliğinin militarist ve bölücü karakterini anlamak açısından tarihsel bir örnek teşkil etmektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Transkafkasya, Gürcistan, Ermenistan, Gürcistan-Ermenistan Savaşı, Taşnak Hükümeti. Abstract Throughout history, the Caucasus region has attracted sustained interest from major powers due to its strategic geopolitical location and abundant natural resources. This persistent attention has often placed the region at the center of military and political conflicts. Following the collapse of the Russian Empire after the October Revolution of 1917, new political actors emerged in the region, and the ensuing power struggle among them laid the groundwork for several armed conflicts. In this context, the war between Armenia and Georgia from October to December 1918 stands out as one of the most notable regional confrontations of the period. The Armenian Dashnak government sought to exploit the power vacuum created by the withdrawal of Ottoman forces after the Armistice of Mudros, pursuing expansionist policies that targeted the territories of neighboring peoples. The primary cause of the conflict was the Dashnaks’ maximalist territorial demands and their aggressive strategies aimed at realizing these ambitions. However, this approach not only deepened Armenia’s diplomatic isolation in the region but also resulted in severe humanitarian consequences. During the war, Armenia experienced a profound economic and social collapse, with access to food, medicine, and basic necessities becoming nearly impossible. The country faced what can only be described as a humanitarian catastrophe. British intervention in the region played a decisive role in preventing Armenia’s total devastation, and a temporary balance was achieved following the cessation of hostilities. This war serves as a historical case study for understanding the militaristic and divisive nature of Armenian nationalism. Keywords: Transcaucasia, Georgia, Armenia, Georgian-Armenian War, Dashnak Government

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Cite This Article

Salimov, M. (2026). FROM BORDER DISPUTES TO CONFLICT:THE ARMENIA -GEORGIA WAR (1918). Review of Armenian Studies, Issue: 54. https://doi.org/10.54842/ras.1733881

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