Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State Universit: Open Journal Systems / ივანე ჯავახიშვილის სახელობის თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი
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Zoomorphic Ornamental Tradition and the Dynamics of its Transformation in Bronze Age Cultures: the Case of Eastern Georgia
No full textThe article isdedicated to the special study of origin and continuation of zoomorphic decoration throughout the Bronze Age in the territory of eastern Georgia. At the present state of research, it is possible to note that zoomorphic ornamentation wasrepresented well enough elsewhere in eastern Georgia and lasted from the Early Bronze era including the very end of Late Bronze-Early Iron Age. Exclusively one short time-interval, when an interruption of the mentioned type of decoration was recorded, was the period of so-called Early Kurgan Culture.
Currently, this survey considersa wide range of data of animal decorations, represented on the pottery from various assemblages. It allows to judge about the continuity and development of these ornamental motifs and the methods of their representation in eastern Georgia throughout the entire Bronze period (Early-, Middle- and Late Bronze-Early Iron Ages).
This is exactlythelong time interval, deliberately chosen for this purpose, that allows to considerthe zoomorphic ornamental tradition from the point of view of its continuity or disappearance during the above mentioned stages of Bronze Era.
From this point of view,the presented article particularly analyses dozens of ceramic assemblages from the Early Bronze Age Kura-Araxes culture, Middle Bronze Age phase I,the so-called Early Kurgan culture, Middle Bronze Age phase II Trialeti culture of Brilliant Kurgans and the cultures of Late Bronze-Early Iron Age (Samtavro and Lchashen-Tsitelgorebi cultures). This rather long period allows us to examine interesting ceramic assemblages, firstly, from the perspective of their continuation and, secondly, from the point of transformation or total change of zoomorphic design throughout hundreds of centuries.
Ceramic artifacts on the surface of which were represented animals and birds are characteristic of the Kura-Araxes culture of the Early Bronze Age. Usually they are designed by using different technical implements, like relief, incised and engraved techniques. Clay masters of this period were attempting to create different faunistic varieties: horned animals, cranes, wild goats, dogs, snakes or others. It is important to note that animal imagesare presented not only asceramic decorations but also as clay and stone figurines and as metal personal ornaments (like diadems of the elite representatives). During the excavations carried out in the last years in Shida Kartli region were revealed especially interesting and unique clay samples, which were modelled as animal-shaped vessels. This form (fashion) of vessel does not have continuation in the succeeding Middle Bronze era, and only after a long time interval again appears in the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age and, what is remarkable, in the same area of eastern Georgia (Treli cemetery, I layer of the Berikldeebi settlement).
From the point of view of continuation of the zoomorphic decoration, special attention was devoted to the clay artifacts of the so-called Early Kurgan culture (earliest, i.e. I phase of the Middle Bronze Age), where no case of an animal design was recorded. Throughout this relatively short time-interval, clay or stone figurines were not produced either. It seems greatly surprising why the best South Caucasian masters of clay vessels were not interested at all inpresenting faunistic ornamentations, whereas, they are the ones, i.e. the jewellers of the Bedeni Culture, who created such a unique and fascinating figurine as the golden lion. This fact of an absence of any zoomorphic ornamentation on the ceramics of this cultural unit arouses interest and questions.
The mentioned motif again appeared as the ornamentation of pottery inthe developed, i.e. II phase of the Middle Bronze Age, which coincides with the period of existence of Trialeti Culture of Brilliant Kurgans. Among the assemblages of this period was discovered clay production with different zoomorphic motifs, mainly of complicated design. Representations of various horned animals, among them: pasang (Capra aegagrus), Caucasian goat (Capra), goat (Capra hircus), water birds, etc., represent specific ornaments for Trialetian ceramics. It is symptomatic that they modelled animals/birds by using different techniques: like painting (the case of water bird ornament, which appears to be a detail of the so-called “water-scheme motif” decoration), incised, engraved, relief (cases of snake design) and the so-called “combed” ornamentation.
It seems an essential matter that faunistic design is more characteristic of the toreutic assemblages than the pottery of the Trialeti Culture, which might be explained by the heyday of the high artistic craft. At the same time, it should be noted that clay or stone figurines, which were so actual for the Early Bronze Age Kura-Araxes culture, absolutely disappeared during the Middle Bronze period.
From the point of view of zoomorphic decorations, special attention should be given to the clay production of the final stage of Bronze era, i.e. Late Bronze-Early Iron Age. Zoomorphic ornamentation appears rather more actual at the time of its final phase, rather than during the early phase of Late Bronze Age. Different types of animals (ram, bird, snake, undefined horned animal, lion, Caucasian goat) were designed on clay pottery of that period. The considered ornamental images were represented by sculptural details, which were incised, engraved or attached to the lug or shoulder of the vessel.
Summarizing numerous currently known clay assemblages of the long-lasting Bronze era, from the point of continuation of zoomorphic decorations, it might be concluded that the mentioned design was a characteristic feature for all the stages of this period, except the relatively short time-interval of so-called Early Kurganculture pottery. At the same time, it seems essential that for each stage of Bronze era, i.e. Early-, Middle- and Late Bronze-early Iron Age, more or less distinct technical methods of modelling were symptomatic, as well the representation of the faunistic world.
It would bepreferable if scholars investigated the issue discussed above from the point ofview of evaluation of materials from different regions of the Caucasus and their comparative study. The overall study of this issue requires further detailed research of faunistic ornamental design represented on clay patterns from other regions of the Caucasus as well. Only such wider consideration of clayware from the point of its distribution will give a chance to judge with more certainty about the continuity of zoomorphic ornamental tradition
Didgoroba (August 12) in the Politics of Modern Georgian Memory
No full textThe Battle of Didgori holds special significance in Georgian history. It has come to represent the country's unification, strength, and victory. This battle is commemorated by the memorial complex built inDidgoriValleyduring the Soviet period by the famous Georgian sculptor Merab Berdzenishvili. Didgori Day has been observed annually on August 12 since the erection of the Didgori monument. However, due to the country's difficult sociopolitical processes since the early 1990s, Didgori was forgotten at the state level, but the Georgian man's memory and political thought preserved its historical and national significance. As a result, the Didgori holiday was constantly observed on its initiative by the populace.During the country's most difficult period, when state institutions were effectively overthrown, society was depressed and aggravated by events in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, and the country's difficult socioeconomic situation was significant. Because the Battle of Didgori in Georgian history was a symbol of the country's unity, solidarity, devotion, and victory, which led toGeorgia's transformation into a strong state, the Kvemo Kartli region began actively working to restore Didgori Day at the state level. The first event was held in 1997, and since then it has grown in size and taken on the form of a public celebration.Didgoroba is examined in the report in the context of modern Georgia's memory policy from the 1990s to the present. The research was based on an examination of internet media and in-depth interviews with public officials directly involved in the restoration of the Didgori holiday
Leader Versus Party: Georgian Experience
No full textThis paper focuses on the transformation of party system institutionalization in post-Soviet Georgia. Political parties are weakly institutionalized and personalized and the level of popular trust towards political parties is low in Georgia. The personalization of political parties, always inspired by their leardrs’ personalities. The first of such parties, the round table – free Georgia was built around the personality of Zviad gamsakhurdia. The leader’s party was Citizen’s Union of Georgia, built around Eduard Shevardnadze. Also, the adjarian regional leader Aslan Abashidze built Georgian Revival Union. The same is true of United National Movement built around Mikheil Saakashvili and Georgian Dream founded by Bidzina Ivanishvili. As a result of analysis had been revealed that Georgian party system suffers crisis in the term of institutionalization. On the one hand the weakness of program / ideological connection between parties and electorate and articulation-aggregation of public interests remains as an unsolved problem in party system. The political parties do not have a sense of stability and are focused on short-term success. On the other hand the personalization of politics and special dependence on the leader even more escalates crisis in the party system institutionalization. The absence of ideological watershed between the political parties contributes to the instability of electorate. The voter often can’t see fundamental difference between the parties
About the Constituent Assembly and the Constitution of Georgia
No full textRecords of George Gvazava (1869-1941
Gender Politics in the United States
No full textThe purpose of this article is to examine the reasons for the unequal political representation of women in the United States. In particular to identify the factors that contribute to the low representation of women in the American political system; How priority is this problem today and specifically what kind of mechanisms the state is trying to overcome the under-representation of women. Groups of women who participate and are involved in promoting women's empowerment and political participation do not support the legislative quota strategy, so it is extremely important to study the role, initiatives and approaches of women's organizations in stimulating women's political participation. Moreover, there is only one type of intervention compared to other strategies: These are the implementation of training or other types of education programs for women interested in politics. We can conclude that the lack of legislative quotas initiative in American civil society and the unpopularity of the idea in general may be related to the lack of mobilization around the idea of quotas in women's organizations
Foreign Orientation as an Identity Factor in the Georgian Governmental Discourse
Get PDFDuring the entire history of Georgia, despite the territorial distance, the feeling of rapprochement with Europe and affiliation to its values was always challenging for the Georgian government. This idea is shortly and exhaustively expressed in former Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania’s historic address at the European Council in 1999 when he said: "I am Georgian and therefore I am European" (Jvania, 2013: 1).Our paper will discuss Georgia's European orientation as a determinant in identity development after regaining independence in 1991. Among the various internal and external difficulties in these days, Georgia also faced the problem of choosing its foreign political orientation. President Shevardnadze once noted, "Economic and political rapprochement with Europe and full integration with it is the main priority of Georgia's foreign political course. “,We will analyze the attitudes of Georgian presidents toward political orientation. Despite the differences in opinions, one thing is explicit: all of them understood the importance of integration with Europe, and all of them have made some steps toward it, which recently resulted in visa liberalization with EU member countries
The Political TV Advertisement during the Election Campaign of the Parliamentary Elections of 2020 in Georgia: The Thematic Aspect
No full textPolitical advertising is one of the main elements of the election campaign. Political advertising includes newspaper ads, billboards, brochures, articles, flyers, digital and social media advertising, Radio and television advertisements…The paper analyses only the advertisements of political parties during the electoral campaign of the parliamentary elections of 2020 in Georgia. Out of the 60 electoral subjects 39 used at least 1 advertisement. In terms of the content of the advertisement the negative campaign and the social promises dominated, used by 8 and 7 political parties respectively. A particular attention was paid to the issue of economy (5 political parties) and banking policy (3 parties). There were advertisements simply listing the majoritarian candidates (4 parties), highlighting ideological context (4 parties) and referring to historical figures (3 parties). Two political parties capitalized on their political experience and only 1 political party referred to the religious symbols.Political advertising can be both, paid and free. Both types of political advertisements are allowed in Georgia during pre-election periods. Candidates and political parties are granted with free political advertising or spots primarily in the public service media, but this doesn’t mean that free political advertisements can’t be placed on the other private channels too, along with paid political advertisements
The Challenges of Post-Soviet Transformation in Georgia: Democratization and Its External and Domestic Rivals
Get PDFThe democratization process in Georgia, starting with the dissolution of the Soviet Union and declaring independence in 1991, has come through the rocky terrain, with ups and downs, struggling with the internal (nationalism, ethnic fragmentation, state weakness and fragility, weak party-politics) and external (Russia’s grip on the Near Abroad, hence on Georgia in the geopolitically strategic region of the South Caucasus, intersection of the great powers’ interests and proxy clashes in the region in general and in Georgia in particular) challenges. This paper claims that the challenges of democratization process in Georgia should be highlighted at the intersection of external and internal threats; hence the widely acclaimed visions of triple (see: Offe, 2004) and quadruple (see: Kuzio, 2001) models of transformation describing the processes of democratization under state-building and nation-building processes should be pinned down to the analysis of causes of fragmentation of [political] public sphere in order to uncover intersections of the internal and external threats to democracy, which have undermined the process of democratization and unleashed the trends of populism and illiberalism.
The Nagorno Kharabakh Conflict of 2020 – A Change in the Security Architecture of the South Caucasus
No full textIn1999aftersigningtheBishkekpeaceagreementbetweenAzerbaijanandArmenia, theactivephaseoftheNagorno-KarabakhconflicthasfinishedthathasbroughtsignificantstabilitytotheSouthCaucasusregion.Bothsidesoftheconflicthavechosendifferentpathwaysofbuildingthesecurityarchitecture. ArmeniahasjoinedtheCollectiveSecurityTreatyOrganizationwhereRussiaisthemainguarantorofthesafety. Atthesametimeon20thofaugust2010,ExtendedDefensePactwassignedbetweenArmeniaandRussiathatimpliesadditionalsecurityguarantiesforArmeniainexchangeofanincreasedRussianmilitarypresenceonArmeniansoil.WhatconcernstoAzerbaijan, in1999itlefttheCollectiveSecurityTreatyOrganizationalongsidewithGeorgia. On21thofDecember2010, TheParliamentofAzerbaijanratifiedtheAgreementonStrategicPartnershipandMutualSupportsignedbetweentheAzerbaijanandtheTurkey - thathastakentheirmilitarycooperationtothenextlevel.Itisundoubtablefactthatfrom1994until2020, situationbetweenAzerbaijanandArmeniahasdeterioratedmanytimesovertheNagorno-Karabakhconflict, butthesecuritymechanismsoftheAzerbaijanandArmeniahaveneverallowedthefull-scalemilitaryescalation.Thebestpatternfortheaforementionedjudgementisthe2016FourDayWar - thatwasneverescalatedintothefull-scaleconflictregardlessitsunprecedentedsizeandthenature.Thearticleisdedicatedtorepresentthat2020Nagorno-KarabakhconflicthasdramaticallychangedthesecurityarchitectureoftheSouthCaucasusRegion
Issues of regulations of ethnic minorities in contemporary political processes: Western Experience and current Georgia
No full textThe given article discusses the issues of regulations and basic models of accommodation of ethnic minorities in contemporary Western liberal democracies and its correlation to current Georgia. Current increasing emigration processes vis a vis origination of far rights movements in western democracies have been somehow shifted conventional ways of understanding of nation-state and ethnic coexistence, especially in East-Central Europe and even in old democracies, but from our point of view, the radical shift of traditional cores of traditional political stability requires long time and is not pretty real in short term perspectives. Therefore, for Georgia, whos’ crucial challenge for successful democratic state-building remains it’s ethnic diversity, the consideration of western conventional experience of civic integration and coexistence has been still actual.