Studying Georgian National Identity: Ethnosymbolist Approach

Abstract

In Soviet historiography formation of Georgian nation was represented on a ground of Marxian sociology. From the beginning of the 21st century for study of history of Georgian identity I began using western theory, namely, ethno-symbolist approach. In the present article I share my experience accumulated by me in this field during two recent decades with the readers. In particular, I demonstrate my views on history of Georgian identity. Main message of my results are as follows: formation of Georgian identity is a long-term process comprising ethnic and national levels of development. Georgian identity has been formed during the centuries. It has retained self-sameness until today. The long-term uninterrupted development is a feature that makes Georgian case unique. Georgian nation belongs to a rare type of continuous nations with very deep ethnic roots in pre-modernity. In the paper I have also concerned though very briefly the aggressive criticism which comes from certain Georgian historians in address of my views on history of Georgian identity. In future I plan return to all above mentioned issues more profoundly: I mean not only my representations based on ethno-symbolist approach, but also I am going to pay special attention to the difficulties which had faced my attempts to implement western social theory in Georgian scholarship. I intend to consider not only separate facts of the militant ignorance of some scholars, but the whole contexts so that characterize the modern state of Georgian historiography and identify the existed problems for solving them successfully in future.