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Georgian National Identity: Conflict and Integration

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Georgian National Identity: Conflict and Integration DIANA BOGISHVILI IRINA OSEPASHVILI ELENE GAVASHELISHVILI NINO GUGUSHVILI Georgian National Identity: Conflict and Integration Authors: Diana Bogishvili Irina Osepashvili Elene Gavashelishvili Nino Gugushvili Tbilisi, 2016 The present study was conducted with the support of the Academic Swiss Caucasus Net (ASCN). ASCN is a programme aimed at promoting the social sciences and humanities in the South Caucasus (primarily Georgia and Ar- menia). Its different activities foster the emergence of a new generation of talented scholars. Promising junior researchers receive support through re- search projects, capacity-building training and scholarships. The programme emphasizes the advancement of individuals who, thanks to their ASCN ex- perience, become better integrated in international academic networks. The ASCN programme is coordinated and operated by the Interfaculty Institute for Central and Eastern Europe (IICEE) at the University of Fribourg (Switzer- land). It is initiated and supported by Gebert Rüf Stiftung. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent opinions of Gebert Rüf Stiftung and the University of Fribourg. Editor: Avtandil Beselia Translate to English: Irina Osepashvili, Kristina Margvelashvili, Ia Gelashvili, Nino Gugushvili Layout and cover design: George Bagrationi © Center for Social Sciences, 2016 Publishing House “Nekeri”, 2016 ISBN: 978-9941-457-63-0 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ..................................................... 5 1. Theoretical review ............................................ 8 1.1. Processes in the Modern World: Modernization, Europeanization, Globalization .............................. 8 1.2. The Concept of Nation and Nationalism..................... 21 1.3. Concepts of Identity and National Identity .................. 42 2. Methodology ................................................ 49 3. Findings ..................................................... 54 3.1. Forms of expression of Georgian National Identity ........... 54 3.1.1. Markers of Georgian National Identity ................. 58 3.1.2. National Pride and National Shame .................... 91 3.1.3. Citizenship and related responsibilities ............... 114 3.1.4. The Significance of Religion in Georgian National Identity ............................. 120 3.2. Modern Georgian Society ................................ 157 3.2.1. Social and State Institutions and their Meanings ....... 157 3.2.2. The Significance of Modern Global Processes on Georgian National Identity ............................. 180 3.2.3. International Threats Perceived by Georgian Society ... 194 3.3. The dichotomy of “We” and “Other”- Conflict and Integration in Modern Georgian Society .................... 206 3.3.1. The Ethno-Cultural “Other” .......................... 211 3.3.2. The value-based “other” ............................ 250 4. Summary and Conclusion .................................... 277 5. Bibliography ................................................ 282 6. Appendix ................................................... 292 _ 3 _ Introduction National identity, as one of the collective identities, has long been the subject of special attention and research, notably in the West, as well as in Eastern Europe. The academic community and the political elite in Georgia have been discussing national identity for many years; nevertheless, an empirical study covering the popular discourses has not yet been conducted relating to contemporary Georgia. The present work is one of the first steps in discerning the Georgian reality. In order to study the factors defining national identity and the basic values of society, this work has utilized data from the 2013 population representative “National Identity” survey from ISSP (International Social Survey Programme) as well as interviews with the Georgian population and public opinion makers. The research objective is to define markers of Georgian national identity, also to reveal both the values that unite Georgian society and the distinctions that cause conflicts. The aim of this research is to reveal the appearance of modern Georgian society based around the key aspects of Georgian national identity. Certain features of Georgian national identity are closely related to previous historical and political events. Georgian nationalism emerged in the 19th century when the Emperor of Russia abolished Georgian statehood and Georgia became part of the Russian Empire within two provinces. Hence, natural Georgian nationalism and national identity were based on ethno-cultural factors. At the beginning of the 20th century, a short period of Georgian independence (1918-1921) was followed by Georgia’s occupation by Soviet Russia. Thus, as the result of Soviet annexation, Georgian statehood was abolished until 1991. Accordingly, during the Soviet period, Georgian nationalism could not develop in a civil-political sense, and mostly ethno- cultural features, essentially language, culture and religion, remained the defining characteristics of Georgian identity (Zedania, 2010). When it comes to Georgian national identity and its core values, the recent past also needs to be taken into account. ​​Georgia passed the declaration for the restoration of independence on April 9th, 1991. At the end of the 1980s, _ 5 _ during the Soviet Union’s disintegration, repressed “national sentiments” broke out and acquired a particular political meaning, with the notion of national freedom. By that time, the restoration of independence became a crucial societal demand, for example the tragedy of April 9th, 1989, and the referendum for independence, March 31st, 1991. In those critical years, the main value unifying society was Georgia’s independence. Representatives of all nationalities, ethnic groups or religions who supported Georgia’s independence were perceived as “us”, while opponents of independence were seen as “enemies.” After the Soviet Union collapsed and Georgia became a member of the United Nations as an independent state in 1992, the rethinking of national identity and “nationality” gradually became an issue within Georgian society. In the international arena, it is no longer necessary for ethno-cultural Georgians to prove their national identity as Georgian and not Russian or Soviet, as it was during Soviet times. Moreover, Georgia’s independence is a widely recognized fact, and no longer a subject for discussion as it was during those critical, transitional periods. Contemporary Georgian society faces certain issues, namely, whether to complete or replace the ethno-cultural model of national identity with civic and political values; further whether the current socio-economic or political reality provides the opportunity to replace survival values with values of self- expression. The aim of this study is to attempt to answer these questions and to discuss various interconnected problems. The main part of the publication includes three chapters and a final conclusion: The first chapter, a theoretical review, consists of three parts. This includes several topics that provide certain a theoretical basis for the study of national identity in Georgia. The first part examines modernization, globalization, Europeanization, and the general trends identified that are currently relevant in relation to modernization, to globalization and, particularly, to Europeanization. The second part of the theoretical review focuses on the nation and nationalism, and includes the existing theories, alongside the other aspects, terms and various interpretations connected to national identity. The third part discusses and attempts to define the concepts of identity and national identity. The second chapter, on methodology, describes how the data was collected and analyzed. In brief, the study was carried out in three stages: the secondary analysis of the quantitative data (descriptive, factor analysis, _ 6 _ etc.) as well as the focus groups and the in-depth interviews, and their qualitative content analysis. The most extensive, the third chapter of the publication, includes a discussion of the research findings, and is divided into three basic parts: forms of expression of national identity, modern Georgian society, and finally the dichotomy of “we” and “other”, conflict and integration in modern Georgian society. _ 7 _ 1. Theoretical REvIEW 1.1. Processes in the Modern World: Modernization, Europeanization, Globalization Georgia has made significant progress towards getting closer to Europe by signing the Association Agreement with the European Union on June 27th, 2014. Georgia has already been involved in integration process with European society. The theoretical part of this work aims to highlight the processes underway in Europe and their importance in relation to national identity. One should start with defining the notion of Europe. Does the notion denote the European Union and its member states, or should one perceive Europe as one whole geographical and political entity? According to a number of theorists, for example Ulrich Beck and Edgar Grande (Beck and Grande, 2004), there is no Europe as such, there is only Europeanization perceived and understood as the institutional process of sustainable development. According to Beck, Europe cannot be viewed merely as a fixed and conserved factor but rather a combination of the following variables: national interests, national affiliation, internal and foreign relations, statehood and
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