TY - JOUR ID - 69746 TI - REASONS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS IN SOUTH CAUCASIAN REPUBLICS JO - POLITICAL QUARTERLY JA - JPQ LA - en SN - 1735-9678 AU - Kolaee, Elahe AU - Kaviani Far, Peyman AD - Professor, Regional Studies Department, University of Tehran AD - Ms, Regional Studies Department, University of Tehran Y1 - 2018 PY - 2018 VL - 48 IS - 4 SP - 1039 EP - 1056 KW - Constitution KW - Armenia KW - Republic of Azerbaijan KW - Georgia KW - circulation KW - power DO - 10.22059/jpq.2018.223239.1006984 N2 - All three republics of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia after the independence passed their first constitutions in 1995 and in the consequent years amended the constitutions at least two or three times. The amendments coincided with the power transition and election period which made their effects vast and considerable. Given this background, the main question of this research is that what has been the most important factor contributing to constitutional amendments in the three south Caucasian republics? Comparative evaluation of the issue shows specific homogeneity and heterogeneity between these three countries which may be experienced in other developing countries as well. To answer the question, we should pay attention to the context specially the political environment, major actors and benefiting elements and also judicial and political consequences of each amendment. The main hypothesis of this research is that maintaining power in the hands of ruling elites has been the main cause of constitutional amendments in all three republics. The method of research is descriptive–analytical. UR - https://jpq.ut.ac.ir/article_69746.html L1 - https://jpq.ut.ac.ir/article_69746_afb30eb254333a70b2687fc4e035b093.pdf ER -