Sophio Kadagishvili

PhD Student

TSU Ivane Javakhishvili Institute of Georgian History and Ethnology

The University of Georgia

Research Fellow

https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2724-3408

sopio.kadagishvili@tsu.ge

Research of Ethnicity in Georgian Historiography

Ethnicity, as a form of social organization, is an ancient phenomenon, however, its research as a social category begins in recent times and relates to the new direction of history. A new history from premodern historiography differs with the fact that it focuses on not only political history but also on public perceptions. This direction of history explores the past by focusing on broad and diverse cultural elements, which allow us to observe events at the historical moment of its formation. Ethnicity is not a static phenomenon. It is the result of time and cultural conditions.

In Soviet historiography, the observation of ethnicity began in the 70ies of the 20th century, and it was essentially understood. In general, the Soviet Union was characterized by an essentialist understanding of groups. Accordingly, the Georgian scholarly circle influenced by Soviet ideology shared the Marxist and Stalinist understanding of nations. Researchers tried to explain history materialistically, however, in the process of building "A Soviet Person" the Soviet cultural policy aimed at developing national cultures, languages that resulted in focusing of ethnicity. As for ethnicity, it was considered a self-evident fact that did not require special research. Ethnicity was understood very narrowly, not as a social phenomenon, but simply as an origin. This trend still exists today but is not the only one.

The aim of the presentation is to show the evolutionary line of researches based on ethnic issues, approaches and understanding of ethnic perceptions in Georgian historiography from the beginning of emergence of Georgian modern historiography till today.

Keywords: Georgian historiography, ethnicity, ethnic issues in historiography, a new history