Where Does Europe End?

Abstract

Modernization that resulted in contemporary European society has been an attractive goal for Russian officials who proclaimed European values as an important part of Russian identity. But the North Caucasus, which is a specific part of Russia, does not correspond these “European standards.” The patron-client system of governance for the North Caucasus, and the disconnection that it creates between the people who live in the region and Moscow, represents the wider attitude of Russian elites, cultural commentators, and policymakers toward the region. “The Caucasian archaism” has been common discourse for characteristic of the North Caucasus among central and regional elites. This “applied archaic” and military rhetoric has to explain political particularism and ineffectiveness of reforms in the North Caucasus. In fact, dealing with Moscow, post-modern Europe deals with Russian modern society which consists of pre-modern subjects and mechanisms of political communication that complicates both international communication and effective collaboration.