The Idea of Macro-Communal Space and its Applicability to the Ethno-Complex Societies of the Post-Soviet Caucasus and Central Asia

Abstract

Rustow defined National Unity as the sole prerequisite to a transition towards democracy. Later, a second prerequisite was introduced: the Modern State. Despite the importance of these two prerequisites, there is a need to introduce a third prerequisite to encompass ethno-complex societies.It is difficult to achieve National Unity in ethno-complex settings, because societies are highly fragmented and the several “fragments” do not perceive themselves as equal. In this regard, macro-communal spaces act as a harmonizing pre-chamber in which similarities are enhanced but differences are not forgotten.In this paper we intend to explore the need to introduce a third prerequisite to the transitological analysis. Secondly, we propose an operational definition of macro-communal space, adapted to the specificities of the post-soviet societies. In the third part we attempt the application of the concept to ethno-complex societies in the Caucasus and Central Asia, to measure its utility.

Keywords

• macro-communal space
• Caucasus
• Central Asia
• transitology
• ethno-nation