Transnistria 1989-1992

Transnistria is often referred to, in both Russianand Western media, as a frozen ethnic conflict. Itbecame another of the many "black holes" throughoutthe former Soviet Union, regions such as Chechnya,Nagorno-Karabakh and Abkhazia, where no long-termsettlement has been reached and the writ of thecentral governments no longer run. The word "ethnic"has become a fashionable epithet of modern conflicts.However, "ethnic conflict" is an "umbrella" term,which allegedly explains everything or at least mostthat should be known about a particular conflict. Itis a very comfortable means to describe the nature ofa dispute, while overlooking the fact that besidesethnic aspects, there might be also other, no lessimportant issues interplaying in a complex mosaic. The present research will argue that theTransnistrian conflict is not ethnic, but primarilygeopolitical. Furthermore, it broke out mainly as theresult of the disproportionate interest andparticipation of the main political actors, andnamely, the expressed interest and hyperactivity ofRussia, coupled with the reluctance of the otherplayers to interfere with what is perceived to be theRussian sphere of influence.