First Advisor
Joshua Eastin
Date of Award
Spring 6-9-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in International & Global Studies: Global Studies and University Honors
Department
International and Global Studies
Language
English
Subjects
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Environmental Discourse, Conflict Discourse
Abstract
This paper explores the role of ecological narratives in the long-standing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region in the South Caucasus. This paper argues that environmental narratives do not only reflect but also shape the conflict's trajectory--most notably in relation to Azerbaijan's 2023 territorial gains and their aftermath. Much of the existing scholarship focuses on the territorial, ethnic, and political dimensions of the conflict, however this study examines how environmental discourse has been employed by both sides to frame grievances and influence domestic and international opinion. By analyzing the discourse of ecocide and recent case studies, including the 2022 environmental protests in Lachin, COP29, and international trials, this research highlights how the environment has functioned as more than just a passive backdrop. The environment has become a politicized object within a broader narrative struggle, that is a barrier to conflict reconciliation and peace.
Rights
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Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/43989
Recommended Citation
Klucken, Mallory, "The Role of Environment in Conflict Discourse: Analyzing Nagorno-Karabakh" (2025). University Honors Theses. Paper 1700.
Comments
An undergraduate honors thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in University Honors and International/Global Studies and Russian.