Diversity and Florogenesis of Subnival Flora of the Caucasus

This paper presents the results of systematic, ecopathological, and chorological studies of the diversity of the subnival belt （zone） flora of the Caucasus Mountains, peculiarity of altitudinal distribution, endemism and florogenesis. Comparative analysis of the diversity of the subnival flora on different types of stone and at different altitudes in various parts of the Caucasus has been made. It is based on field investigation and on literature research. 226 species, 96 genera and 35 families were recorded in the subnival belt of the Caucasus within a range of 2,800 （2,900）-4,000 m a.s.l. Among these 117 species or 51% are common endemics of the Greater Caucasus and Caucasus. It is proved that floristic elements of different origin （authochronic and aloctonic） and age （Miocene-Pliocene and Pleistocene） contributed to the florogenesis of the subnival belt of the Caucasus. The Caucasian, the Eu-Caucasian, the Eastern Asian, the Minor Asian, the Dagestan-lranian, the Caucasia-European groups plaied an important role in the florogenesis. Criophilic evolution on the of the some plants was related to oreophytizacion during formation of the Caucasus mountains （in the second half of the Tertiary）, as well as the glaciations scale. Species composition and coenotic role are different in various parts of the Caucasus and within each part. This is conditioned by the different hypsometry of various parts of the Caucasus, the character of glatiations, edaphic and climatic conditions, lythological diversity. Compared with the Greater Caucasus, the relative floristic poverty of the Lesser Caucasus is due to low elevations and extensive rather recent vulcanism.

Victor Nozadze on Geopolitics of the Caucasus

The paper deals with the political visions of a famous Georgian scientist and public figure Victor Nozadze （1893-1975）. It refers to Nozadze＇s attempts to comprehend Georgia and Caucasus through the concepts and categories of the new discipline of those times--geopolitics. The study uncovers the main propositions of his work On the Geopolitics of the Caucasus （A Struggle for Oil） which could be considered as one of the seminal works in the history of the geopolitical thought of Georgia. The paper argues that Nozadze was significantly influenced by the works of a German geo-politician Erich Obst and he became interested in the problems of geopolitics through the publications appearing in the Journal of Geopolitics. The study proves that geopolitical analysis of Obst and Nozadze are not contradictory; rather they deal with the different geopolitical aspects. The study proposes the geopolitical conception of Victor Nozadze, which could be formulated as follows： for the empires of the old and contemporary times of Caucasus was ＂an area of growth and enlargement＂, ＂an area of competition of geopolitical powers＂, the place where ＂all imperial powers clash each-other＂, ＂Caucasus was and remains an area of competition of geopolitical powers.＂ According to Victor Nozadze, the Transcaucasia was a single entity in geographic terms and due to its geographical location Georgia always strove towards acquiring a leading role in the unification of the Caucasus. He assumed that Georgia should have maintained the same role in the future as well. Although he was well aware of those aspects which hindered the unity of the Caucasus： contradictions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the different foreign orientations of these people. Although he considered continuation of attempts for unification of the Caucasus as a necessity and tried to justify this claim through the norms and rules of geopolitics.