The principal aim of this course is to acquaint students with the South Caucasus and to explore the processes of state and nation-building in the three countries of the South Caucasus in the post-Soviet period considering the legacy of history (Soviet and pre-Soviet past). The course will first introduce the Caucasus. Then, it will focus on the state and nation building processes of the three South Caucasian Republics with a specific focus on ethnicity, religion, minorities, territorial integrity, and conflicts at national and regional level. Experiences of nation and state building in these countries will be critically and comparatively discussed. Within this context the course aims to provide academic background, conceptual clarity, and guidance to the students around the key issues for analyzing the political dynamics in the three South Caucasian countries.