Quest for ethnic identity in the modern world—The Georgian case

Abstract

Research shows that ethnic identity is a stable phenomenon that endures transformations through time and changing environments; however, it is dynamic. This article offers insights into the meaning of ethnic identity for Georgians and identifies the main signs signifying their common identity. This thesis shows that ethnic belonging is important for Georgians and is marked by familism, loyalty to conservative sexual behavior and an extremely demonstrative form of self-expression. Ethnic identity and associated discourses influence people’s behavior, lifestyle, and values. Research reveals the nonessential nature of Georgians’ ethnic identity. None of the signs identifying Georgian identity is unique because they can be found in other cultures. Ethnic bonding is based on (1) the belief that the configuration of signs identifying Georgian identity is unique and (2) an untold/unconscious agreement between the members of the group to have such a group. Belief in a long common history consolidates and legitimates Georgians’ ethnic bonding. However, respondents are oriented on contemporary challenges and do not reflect much on past events during their everyday life. They construct and reconstruct narratives and traditional rituals to effectively overcome ongoing personal and collective tasks. To obtain an inside view and to achieve a deep understanding of ethnic phenomena, the emic approach was used. The main methods used were individual in-depth interviews and focus groups. The data were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis method.

Keywords:

• Georgia
• ethnicity
• social identity
• indigenous studies
• social boundaries
• social identity complexity
• emic approach
• south Caucasus
• qualitative study

Public Interest Statement

Ethnic identity increasingly plays major role in people’s live. It influences values, norms and defines lifestyles. Ethnicity drives peoples action. Ethnicity provides people with roadmap for their lives and grants them with sense of live.

Georgians are a small ethnos living in the post-soviet area and are on the way of their self-definition through the process of building independence country. Georgians believe to have a long history coming from ancient times and eternal future.

Georgians have traditional society emphasizing high importance of familism and conservative sexual behavior. They are building traditional households, where children live and play together with their grandparents. However, the thing that makes them unic is their lifestyle and the emotional and very expressive way of self-expression. They take everything very close to their hurt.

Research shows that ethnic identity can reconcile different religion groups, orthodox Christian and Muslim identities in one society.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Vladimer Gamsakhurdia

Vladimer Gamsakhurdia has obtained PhD in psychological anthropology from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University in July, 2016. He is holding the position of an assistant-professor at the same university. His research interests are associated with the sociocultural processes and cultural changes. He is interested in interrelation between culture and personality. He has been worked as a fellow at The university of Fribourg, at The university of Chicago and at the University of Basque Country recently.