Boundaries and Territorial Identity in a Post-Soviet De Facto State: Unfolding NGOs' Territorial Activism in Nagorno-Karabakh

This study delves into the complex ways in which contemporary Nagorny Karabakh is conceptualised as an amorphous territory and engages with the spatial practices of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the tangible reworking of territory. It uses actor-network theory and Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of assemblage in conjunction with Foucault’s concept of heterotopia and the topological space to apprehend the ways in which space and territory are (re)produced in Nagorny Karabakh. This study presents a series of case studies that probe a range of the field of post-war transformation, from the minefield, through the renovation of a historical mosque, to the film festival of the Tekali village. The findings presented here significantly contribute to our understanding of the making of territory as well as the expansion of governmental capacities in Nagorny Karabakh.