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South Ossetia, on the Russian border, is about the size of Rhode Island, but has fewer than 70,000 inhabitants. During the Soviet era, it had autonomous status within the Georgian SSR. Therefore, when Georgia became independent in 1991, South Ossetian leaders sought to achieve their regions own independence from Tbilisi.

South Ossetia, on the Russian border, is about the size of Rhode Island, but has fewer than 70,000 inhabitants. During the Soviet era, it had autonomous status within the Georgian SSR. Therefore, when Georgia became independent in 1991, South Ossetian leaders sought to achieve their regions own independence from Tbilisi.

In 1991 and early 1992, the Georgian military launched an offensive to destroy the South Ossetian secession. The ragtag Georgian army was defeated by a combination of local Ossetian fighters and irregulars from Russia. In 1993, Georgia went to war again,  this time to prevent the Abkhazians in the northwest from following the Ossetian example. That conflict also ended in defeat for Georgia. Both provinces have remained functionally separate from Georgia ever since, with their own parliaments, economies, educational systems, and armies—as well as a powerful narrative of valiant struggle against Georgian tyranny. The provinces have turned to Russia for protection from Georgia.

In 1991 and early 1992, the Georgian military launched an offensive to destroy the South Ossetian secession. The ragtag Georgian army was defeated by a combination of local Ossetian fighters and irregulars from Russia. In 1993, Georgia went to war again,  this time to prevent the Abkhazians in the northwest from following the Ossetian example. That conflict also ended in defeat for Georgia. Both provinces have remained functionally separate from Georgia ever since, with their own parliaments, economies, educational systems, and armies—as well as a powerful [[narrative]] of valiant struggle against Georgian tyranny. The provinces have turned to Russia for protection from Georgia.

[[File:S-ossetia1.jpg|thumb|310px]] In early August, 2008, Georgia sought to re-establish its control over the breakaway enclaves of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.  This led to a five-day war, involving a Russian invasion not only of those areas, but of Georgia itself complete with a massive bombing campaign.  Several hundred Georgians were killed and thousands of refugees on both sides were displaced.<ref>Charles King, "The Five-Day War: Managing Moscow after the Georgia Crisis," ''Foreign Affairs'' 2008 87(6): 2-11, online at [[EBSCO]]</ref>

[[File:S-ossetia1.jpg|thumb|310px]] In early August, 2008, Georgia sought to re-establish its control over the breakaway enclaves of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.  This led to a five-day war, involving a Russian invasion not only of those areas, but of Georgia itself complete with a massive bombing campaign.  Several hundred Georgians were killed and thousands of refugees on both sides were displaced.<ref>Charles King, "The Five-Day War: Managing Moscow after the Georgia Crisis," ''Foreign Affairs'' 2008 87(6): 2-11, online at [[EBSCO]]</ref>