Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State Universit: Open Journal Systems / ივანე ჯავახიშვილის სახელობის თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი
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Methods of Constructing Identity (According to L. Lagin’s “Old Man Kottabych”)
No full textResearch of identity politics is an important topic. Meaning of such research increases when identity politics is controlled by specific ideologies – Soviet Ideology in this case. Identity politics of the Soviet Union was aimed at forming and shaping a new type of person – Homo Sovieticus. The most important group for manipulations were children. Literature was one of the effective ways of such influence; therefore, the information given to a child was carefully controlled and defined by ideology. In this paper are compared two editions of the L. Lagin’s “Old Man Khottabych” to distinguish the methods of influence. Differences between the original and the edited versions of the text are also underlined. L. Lagin’s “Old Man Khottabych” tells us a story of a Soviet boy, Volka Kostilkov and a genie – Khottabych. The story was published in the newspaper in 1938, and then as a book in 1940. It was reviewed and edited for the first time in 1953, and then in 1955 for the second. This time, the story was significantly modified – chapters were added, some of the characters were changed, and the story itself was deeply ideologised. In the research we compare the first (1938) and the third (1955) editions. We use narrative analysis as a method of research and structuralism as a framework. The importance of the study is defined by the essence of identity politics – forming and shaping identity is a crucial part of any society.Thus,studying the methods of influence keeps its significance nowadays.
The research indicates several techniques of influences used to construct Soviet identity. Some are explicit, like: 1) deepening emotional background of the story, 2) using past as a reason of negative situation or a feature of a character. There are also implicit, “hidden” methods: 1) forming positive or negative associations, 2) leaving phrases with certain messages throughout the story. All these methods can be used individually or in combination, quite often explicit and implicit methods are connected, like deepening emotional background and forming positive/negative associations etc., increasing influence of these methods.
Manipulation with sentiments and deepening emotional background is the most effective and repeated method. Obviously, categorizing into “good” and ”bad”, and giving them certain emotional context plays a major role in shaping minds of children. For example, to show his love and gratitude, the genie turns Volka into a rich man. Volka refuses his gift (ideological reasons). Surprised Khottabych suggests lending money at any rate. In 1938 version of the text Volka protests - Usurer?! Pioneer and usurer?! Do you know that there are no usurers in our country!
But in the edited text (1955) Volka doesn’t just protest, he makes a speech about terrible usurers, parasites who had drunk their blood at the times of capitalism. But there are no usurers in the Soviet Union, and even if they were, no Soviet citizen would ask them for a loan, etc. This speech is full of emotional, negative outbursts. It is followed by an explanation of how the real Soviet citizen should behave and will behave. Generally, the edited version of the book aims to emphasize feelings and is rich in emotional descriptions or characteristics.
The second, regularly used, method isshowing past as a reason of negative feature or inappropriate behaviour. The old man Khottabych mostly is the one who makes such “mistakes”. However, he has an excuse – he is more than a thousand years old, not to mention that he is a genie. Thus, all his mistakes illustrate how a pioneer and a Soviet citizen should not think or behave. For example, to highlight the idea that there is no poverty in the Soviet Union, Khottabych makes several mistakes. At first, the genie kneels in front of a man he thinks is his master, but people misconceive him as a beggar and shame him for asking for money. Then, the genie gets ill and decides to give money to the poor. Volka and his friend(s) stop him by saying there is no poverty and beggars in the Soviet Union. Though there is a difference between the editions – in the 1938 version boys say “crooks will take your money”, but this sentence is not in the edited version any more. Obviously, 1955 edition accentuates more correct, “moral” image of the Soviet Union, thus no more crooks, beggars or thieves in the story.
The method of associations is often connected with another, “deepening emotional background”, technique. However, it can be used without other methods too. For instance, when Volka and his friend(s) are in Italy, left without Khottabych, they ask fishermen for help – they are workers and workers would not refuse to help, boys say. In other words, workers can trust each other and one can trust a worker. This is an example of positive association. But the same method is used to distinguish the “image of an enemy” – connecting the English language with the “enemy” in this case. English is always linked with negative situations, such as discovering a shell and escaping death only because Volka read the line on the shell – “Made in the U.S.A”. English is also mentioned in the negative context, when Zhenia is lost in India. This implicit technique of connecting a positive/negative context with a certain feature or situation is one of the popular methods used in the book.
The last technique distinguished in the book is leaving phrases with certain messages, but without obvious connection with the context of the sentences. The method is illustrated in this situation: a doctorexamines Goga (classmate and rival of Volka), who is punished by Khottabych and barks whenever he wants to say something bad. To diagnose, the doctor asks Goga to recite a poem and certain sentences. Among others, Goga should say phrases about capitalism and about being a conscientious Soviet pupil. Using phrases containing certain messages is a very effective method of influence and is regularly employed in the book.
To conclude, studying the children’s books of the Soviet period may give us valuable information about the methods and techniques of influence used for forming and shaping Soviet Identity. Comparing the different editions of the same book gives us interesting results
Phraseological Units with Somatic Components: Threats and Benefits (On the Material of English and Georgian Languages)
Get PDFThe paper aims to study the phraseological units with somatic components in English and Georgian languages.
With reference to both languages, such units have been analyzed by numerous scholars from the linguistic
viewpoint. The novelty of the given paper is that it approaches such units with regard to their psychological
impact, which, in the long run, either affects or benefits the human health system.
It is well known that phraseological units with somatic components are untranslatable expressions containing
the names of various parts of the human body as well as the elements of the respiratory, neural and
gastro-intestinal systems. Such phraseological units are abundantly found in every language, including the two
languages under analysis. M. Iunescu notes that “anatomical lexemes are of significant importance in any
culture, because they are used to describe associated semantic and metaphoric relationships” (Iunescu 2005:
40). According to Dingenmanse, the reason for such abundance of phraseological units with somatic components
is that “everyone has a body, and it is easy to refer to its parts, so the body is a very suitable source
domain for expressing a variety of things” (Dingenmanse 2006:59).
However, the usage of such phrases is not always safe. According to famous neuroscientists, “a single
negative word can increase the activity in our amygdala (the fear center of the brain). This releases dozens of
stress-producing hormones and neurotransmitters, which in turn interrupts our brains’ functioning” (Newberg
& Waldman 2012:14).
Therefore, based on the works of neuroscientists and psycholinguists, the paper outlines the positive and
negative impacts of phraseological units with somatic components on human health.
In the article “The Power of Words: How Words Impact Your Life”, a well-known author Katherine Hurst
reminds us of a famous verse from the Bible:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.1
Further, K. Hurst notes that “Words consist of vibration and sound. It is these vibrations that create the
very reality that surrounds us. Words are the creator; the creator of our universe, our lives, our reality.
Without words, a thought can never become a reality. This is something that we have been taught throughout
history, as far back as the Bible, which writes of ‘God’ – whatever that word may mean to you – saying ‘let
there be light’ and as a result creating light. So what can we learn from this? … Surely, we should only pick
the very best words in order to create our very best reality. Our thoughts also impact what we manifest in our
lives. But it can be argued that the real power lies in our words. It is our words that provide a bold affirmation
of our innermost thoughts. They are a confirmation to the world of how we see others, our lives and ourselves.
It is this powerful affirmation that our words provide which enables our thoughts to manifest into a reality. So
why do we choose to misuse our most powerful asset?” (Hurst 2016: 5)
According to a famous Jewish author Yehuda Berg,“Words have energy and power with the ability to
help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate, and to humble”.
The University Conception of Ivane Javakishvili
No full textIvane Javakhishvili, who lived in the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, is one of the leading figures of the foundation and development of the new Georgia. The events that developed at the beginning of the 20th century (the First World War and the revolution in the Russian Empire) determined the future fate of Georgia. Ivane Javakhishvili met the changes caused by these events prepared and took appropriate action. In particular, it was the recognition of the role of science, which entered the life of each advanced country on an unprecedented scale and showed its vitality. With Ivane Javakhishvili's initiative, science should be revived in Georgia, for which a university should be established in Georgia. According to Ivane Javakhishvili's concept, the Georgian university should be adapted to the needs of the Georgian nation, and therefore it should be different from other universities in terms of structure and content of study programs. This difference gave us a new, Georgian model of the university
Modern urban policy of Georgia: Protection of Old Neighborhoods and Rehabilitation of Cultural Heritage Monuments (The Case of Tbilisi)
No full textThis report aims to show what Prevents the establishment of international standards in the process of rehabilitation of cultural heritage monuments. It shows how the passivity of the public and the business interests of the government have a negative impact on the survival and development of the historical part of the city. The study includes the evaluation of the rehabilitation works carried out in 2017-2021, which adds more clarity to the existing problem. Based on the content and specificity, the paper is based on the qualitative research method. This includes: analysis of both primary and secondary sources; Studying documents and conducting in-depth interviews with experts.The research includes the analysis of the pre-election programs of 2021. The discussion of these topics creates the best synthesis, which demonstrates the superficial attitude of Georgian society and political spectrum to Tbilisi culture. It is worth noting that in 2017-2021, getting acquainted with the rehabilitation works carried out in violation and the planned controversial projects is a visible example of disregarding the law, which determines the relevance of the topic.
Populist and Nativist Discourses of Political Parties in 2016 and 2020 Parliamentary Elections of Georgia
No full textPopulist, nationalist and nativist rhetoric have an important role in Georgian politics, but despite their growing influence, there is a lack of scientific study of such narratives and discourses. Since 2013, Georgia has adopted a parliamentary system, which makes the elections of the country's highest legislative body the most important event in political life, this event has increased the role of political parties. Transfer of power after 2012, increased media diversity, which allowed more actors to enter the political arena and present their views to the public. The development of social media also contributed to the growth of populism. The changes implemented in Georgia and the growing populist wave around the world make this issue more significant. The strengthening of populist and nativist actors and the spread of their discourses had its impact on Georgian national-populism.The article aims to identify the nativist, nationalist and populist discourses used by political parties in the parliamentary elections of 2016 and 2020. At the same time, to reveal essential differences between these discourses and messages.In the article populism is understood as a discursive style. It is available to all political actors and it acquires multiple meanings depending on the social context. Benjamin De Cleen’s theory surrounding relationship between populism and nationalism is explored, according to which populism is used as an instrument by nationalists. The article applies Teun van Dijk's sociocognitive approach to discourse analysis in order to analyze the programs of political parties and the political speeches of their leaders.According to the findings, most frequently used narratives/discourses are "We are being deprived of Georgianhood", "the land of the Virgin Mary", "the country of the hundred thousand martyrs". When evaluating the ideological significance of parties' views, we find the following elements of discourse: negative description of actors, implications and presuppositions, propositions and also metaphors. They are usually used to disguise xenophobic attitudes.Nativists focus on anti-immigrant messages and banning of sale of agricultural land to foreigners (such as, Free Georgia, Georgian March, Patriot Alliance), in order to avoid being labeled as xenophobic, try to portray their positions as anti-liberal. At the same time, anti-immigrant messages are also used by parties that are not characterized by nativist attitudes (e.g Labor Party). National-populists heavily employ anti-Western and homophobic narratives (e.g the Georgian idea). All of the above mentioned political parties use populist narratives, suggesting that global liberal ("Soros" and Masonic) forces are set to control Georgian government and subdue Georgian national (patriotic) forces. All nativist and national-populist parties practically don’t criticize Russia and focus on “malignant” influence of the west (for example NATO, USA). In many cases, it is difficult to separate the narratives of nativists and national-populists.In conclusion, parties with a nationalist or nativist ideology use populism as an instrument. They appeal on behalf of the ordinary and oppressed people to legitimate their exclusionary nationalist positions. In my opinion, nativism (or nationalism) is the cornerstone of their ideology, and populism is a form of its representation
May 17: International day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia in Georgia Abstract
No full textThe International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia is observed in Georgia on May 17 to condemn violence and express solidarity with LGBTQI+ people. However, it is primarily associated with violent actions that endanger people's safety.The purpose of this paper is to investigate Georgia's practice of commemorating May 17, the International Day against Transphobia, Homophobia, and Biphobia.Attempts to commemorate May 17 in Georgia began in 2009, and the first May 17 march was held in 2012. The month of March 2013 proved to be a watershed moment in the process of commemorating this date. Clergymen and parishioners confronted and dispersed the LGBTQI+ people who had gathered on Rustaveli Avenue. The state failed to ensure the safety of those gathered there, as well as their freedom of expression, and then failed to identify and punish the criminals.The Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, Ilia II, declared May 17 to be the day of family sanctity.Due to a lack of security, members of the LGBTQI+ community were unable to gather publicly to express their views in the next coming years. The locations of small rallies and events organized as part of the May 17 celebrations are usually announced to the media and supporters a few hours in advance.To this day, the main issue is the state's inconsistent and ill-considered policy toward these processes, which is why measures aimed at raising public awareness, which would help to break existing stereotypical attitudes, are not implemented
The Factors Defining Foreign Policy Orientation According to the Political Parties of Georgia
No full textDetermining the foreign orientation is the most important factor for the action of any country in the foreign arena. In the direction of the country's influence on the international arena, the foreign policy orientation determines the country's strategic goals, objectives and priorities. Accordingly, the purpose of the mentioned article is to determine what specific issues and factors appear in the determination of Georgia's foreign policy orientation.The paper presents the official position of the country, according to the declared documents. At the same time, in order to study the issue in depth, the official positions of the Georgian party spectrum are given in relation to the given issue, based on the positions announced in the pre-election programs. The paper also reviews the existing theoretical aspects and literature in the direction of foreign policy determination.The qualitative research method is used in the research. In particular, the methods of secondary sources, literature analysis and document analysis. As for the selection method, the work is based on non-probability selection method, namely purposive selection, according to which two parties were selected for the study: "Georgian Dream" and "United National Movement".During the processing of the documents, six main factors were identified, which have influence in the development of the country's foreign orientation. Here are the following factors: national security, territorial integrity, economic factors, European and Euro-Atlantic integration, relations withRussia, energy security.Based on the mentioned factors, according to the pre-election programs, I researched the declared positions of the parties in the direction of determining the foreign political orientation. However, based on the results of the research, among the given factors, in the paper, special attention is paid to the role of national security and economic factors
Conflict in Abkhazia: Past and Present
No full textOne of the most important problems for Georgia today is occupation and restoration of territorial integrity. After the collapse of the Soviet Socialist Union, the national liberation struggle was accompanied by the incitement of separatism by the Russian forces in the regions of Abkhazia and Samachablo. Consequently, this led to an armed confrontation that turned into a frozen conflict. During the last 30 years, it is becoming quite difficult to find common points of intersection, since in the occupied territories different consciousness and perception of past and present events are strongly formed. In the territory of Abkhazia, the image of the enemy and the hostile attitude towards Georgia and Georgians are actively formed among the young generation, which is sharply different from the Georgian consciousness and qualifies the Abkhazian as his brother and friend. Considering this factor, the study of cultural and historical memory in the context of Abkhazia is particularly interesting.
Mtatsminda, an example of the reproduction of Georgian national consciousness
No full text The Mtatsminda Pantheon is an important symbol of national identity. The Mtatsminda Pantheon of Writers and Public Figures was officially opened in 1929. On Mtatsminda, there are currently 53 tombs. The Pantheon contains the graves of more writers than political and military figures. The military and political figures who fought for and contributed significantly toGeorgia's independence are honored here. Kakutsa Cholokashvili, Giorgi Kvinitadze, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, and Merab Kostava are among those mentioned. Georgian national memory is reproduced by every second generation by highlighting their stories of self-sacrifice and remembering their merits. The majority of them died in emigration and were only reburied inGeorgiamany years later. Each of them was transferred by commemorative prayers and civil funerals, which instilled heroic feelings in the people. The Pantheon, where individuals with special merits before the nation rest, is rich in the history of these people, the facts of their sacrifice, whose remembrance and connection by the individual with this symbol of national identity contributes to the formation of national memory and its reproduction in each succeeding generation
Code of ethics of local self-government: European experience and Georgia
No full textGeorgian article about the code of ethics of local self-government: European experience and Georgi