Inventing the Self: Popular History in Georgian-Abkhazian Conflict

ISBN-13: 9783836492881 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 60 str.

Mariam Goshadze

Opis

Right after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, previously autonomous regions of Georgia - Abkhazia and South-Ossetia demanded their independence. Political confrontation continues even today. In parallel with the political events, the story of national consistence is born outside the political scene, namely in academic and educational institutions. I have approached this conflict from the perspective of national identity constructed in the historical dialogue. Georgia and Abkhazia offer different interpretations of the same history. If Georgia considers this region as its historical belonging, Abkhazia highlights its unique identity and independence. Newly created historical myths define perception of the self and the other similar to the political situation. Only by stepping out from the informational vacuum of ones own country and grasping the peculiarities of identity-building will it be possible to deal with the conflict either on political or on cultural level.

O autorze

I have been working on Georgian and Abkhazian popular history for
the past two years. Although my research covers the milestones of
the subject, the theme is still considerably understudied. I want
to continue working on this aspect of the conflict in order to
highlight the significance of history-writing in the process of
nation building.