Publication

This paper addresses the question whether the conflict between Georgia and Russia in August 2008 really stands for a turning-point as often argued, and if so, what has changed and with what consequences. Has the Caucasus conflict been of a ground-breaking importance with power politics back on the agenda or instead stood out as a minor incident and an unintended conflict soon to fade into oblivion? The paper argues that rather than a turning-point the conflict has been conducive to the emergence of a meeting-point particularly on the sphere of US-Russia relations whereas the EU is experiencing considerable difficulties in trying to stay in tune with the more general outcome.