Georgia

OSCE Early Warning in Georgia

by Uluslararası İlişkiler

Dov Lynch, "OSCE Early Warning in Georgia", Uluslararası İlişkiler, Cilt 7, Sayı 26 (Yaz), 2010

Avrupa Güvenlik ve İşbirliği Teşkilatının Gürcistan’daki Misyonu erken uyarı ve çatışmaların önlenmesi faaliyetlerinde... more Avrupa Güvenlik ve İşbirliği Teşkilatının Gürcistan’daki Misyonu erken uyarı ve çatışmaların önlenmesi faaliyetlerinde öncü olmuştur. 1992 Aralık ayında kurulan misyon Gürcistan ve Osetya çatışmasında siyasal bir çözüm sağlanması için tarafl ar arasında görüşmeleri teşvik etmek amacıyla kurulmuştur. Makale, çatışmaların önlenmesi ve barışçı çözümün sağlanması için AGİT’in politikalarını ve faaliyetlerini tartışmaktadır.

Between Russian Assertiveness and Insecurity: Georgia’s Political Challenges and Prospect After the Conflict

by Uluslararası İlişkiler

Kornely K. Kakachia, "Between Russian Assertiveness and Insecurity: Georgia’s Political Challenges and Prospect After the Conflict", Uluslararası İlişkiler, Cilt 7, Sayı 26 (Yaz), 2010

Bağımsızlığından bugüne Gürcistan Sovyet sonrası ülkeler arasında en bağımsızlık düşünceli ülkelerden biridir.... more Bağımsızlığından bugüne Gürcistan Sovyet sonrası ülkeler arasında en bağımsızlık düşünceli ülkelerden biridir. Gürcistan’ın Avrupa ve transatlantik topluma yakın olma isteği arttıkça Rusya ile ilişkileri kötüleşmiştir. Rus saldırısı sonrasından ve global ekonomik kriz döneminde, Gürcistan Avro-Atlantik bölgesi ile entegrasyonunu belirsiz geleceğini şiddetlendiren güvenlik ikilemi ile karşı karşıya kalmaktadır. Bu makale Gürcistan’daki siyasal tehditleri ve Gürcistan’da ideolojik mücadeleyi kazanmayı amaçlayan Rusya diplomasisinin “yeni tonunu” incelemektedir. Aynı zamanda Gürcü-Rus savaşından sonra Gürcistan ulusal strateji meseleleri ve Gürcü-Rus ilişkilerinin geleceğini tartışmaktadır.

1995 was a Good Year for the South Caucasus

by Uluslararası İlişkiler

Gerard J. Libaridian, "1995 was a Good Year for the South Caucasus", Uluslararası İlişkiler, Cilt 7, Sayı 26 (Yaz), 2010

Bu makale Güney Kafkasya’da etnik çatışmaları Azerbaycan, Ermenistan ve Gürcistan liderlerinin politikalarına... more Bu makale Güney Kafkasya’da etnik çatışmaları Azerbaycan, Ermenistan ve Gürcistan liderlerinin politikalarına odalanarak tartışmaktadır. Çatışmaların çözümlenmesinde liderliğin rolünü yerel, bölgesel ve uluslararası boyutları da dikkate alarak aydınlatıcı bir analiz sunmaktadır. Yazar 1995 yılını bölgede istikrarın sağlanma potensiyeli olan bir dönem olduğunu ileri sürerek, kalıcı bir çözüme ulaşılamamasının nedenlerini tartışmaktadır.

Roses and Tulips: Dynamics of Regime Change in Georgia and Kyrgyzstan

by Donnacha Ó Beacháin

Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, Volume 25, Issue 2-3, 2009, PP. 199-226

The regime changes in Georgia (2003) and Kyrgyzstan (2005) that resulted in the overthrow of Presidents Shevardnadze... more The regime changes in Georgia (2003) and Kyrgyzstan (2005) that resulted in the overthrow of Presidents Shevardnadze and Akaev are widely considered to be part of a common phenomenon of ‘coloured revolution’ in the post-Soviet space. A key factor was the rise of successful opposition movements that dislodged the ruling regimes.
However, in contrast with the widespread notion that opposition unity was a prerequisite for the overthrow of the presidents, opposition parties found it too difficult to coordinate their actions and their leaders could not agree how best to challenge the election results. Neither was it the case that the Rose and Tulip revolutions were orchestrated by Western agencies seeking to induce a change of government so as to further US interests
in the region. Such analyses exaggerate the influence of foreign actors in the Rose and Tulip revolutions, and over-estimate the unity of purpose among the main opposition parties.

Dynamics of Electoral Politics in Abkhazia - Donnacha O Beachain

by Donnacha Ó Beacháin

Corrected Proof. To be published in Communist and Post Communist Studies, Volume 45, Issues 1-2 (June 2012), pp. 165-174.

Presidential and parliamentary elections in Abkhazia are pluralistic and competitive. They have led to the transfer of... more Presidential and parliamentary elections in Abkhazia are pluralistic and competitive. They have led to the transfer of power from government to opposition forces. This in itself is a remarkable fact in the post-Soviet context, where the outcome of elections very often is determined in advance by the ruling elite. The article explains how and why this form of electoral democracy could occur in Abkhazia, arguably the most ethnically heterogeneous of all post-Soviet de facto states. Drawing on a wide variety of primary sources and data from within Abkhazia, particularly interviews with key players, the author describes the
remarkable willingness of the main political actors to compromise and assesses to what extent Abkhazia’s democratic credentials are sustainable

Travelling between Two Worlds-the Tergdaleulebi, their Identity Conflict and National Life

by Oliver Reisner

America: An Empire In Decline (Part 2)

by Devon DB

This article discusses the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and its effects on US foreign policy. It also discusses the... more This article discusses the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and its effects on US foreign policy. It also discusses the Bush Administration's foreign policy from the attempted coup in Venezuela to the change in military doctrine of the war in Iraq, as well as the Color Revolutions in eastern Europe, ending with a brief discussion of the 2007 financial crisis.

The world’s deepest subterranean community - Krubera-Voronja Cave (Western Caucasus)

by Ana Sofia Reboleira

Sendra, Alberto and Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira. 2012. The world’s deepest subterranean community - Krubera-Voronja Cave (Western Caucasus). International Journal of Speleology, 41 (2): 221-230.

Subsurface biota extends over a wide variety of habitats that can be spatially interconnected. The largest communities... more Subsurface biota extends over a wide variety of habitats that can be spatially interconnected. The largest communities of this subsurface biota inhabit cavities and are well known mainly in caves where biologists are able to have access. Data about deep subterranean communities and arthropods living under one thousand meters was unknown.
An expedition to world’s deepest cave, Krubera-Voronja in Western Caucasus, revealed an interesting subterranean community, living below 2000 meters and represented by more than 12 species of arthropods, including several new species for science. This deep cave biota is composed of troglobionts and also epigean species, that can penetrate until -2140 m. Deep subterranean ecosystems should not be seen only as an evolutionary dead end towards the troglomorphic syndrome, but also as a shelter for epigean species populations, especially during long periods of time when surface conditions are severe for their survival. Most of the subsurface biota depends on allochthonous sources of organic carbon coming from: water percolating from the surface, sinking streams that enter caves, and activities of animals moving in and out of caves.
The biocoenosis and the vertical distribution of invertebrate fauna of Krubera-Voronja are provided, from its entrance to the remarkable depth of 2140 meters, including the discovery of world’s deepest dwelling arthropod.

Keywords: deep subsurface biosphere; biospeleology; vertical distribution; Krubera-Voronja; Western Caucasus

In name only? The effect of color revolutions on press freedom in Georgia and Kyrgyzstan

by Elena Devlen

Synthesis: Journal of Humanities and Social Affairs, 3(1), 33-51, 2011.

Michael Vickers, Amiran Kakhidze, Pichvnari. Results of Excavations Conducted by the Joint British-Georgian Pichvnari Expedition. Vol. I. Pichvnari 1998-2002. Greeks and Colchians on the East Coast of the Black Sea. Oxford, Batumi, 2004, ACSS, 12, 2006, 339-340

by Askold Ivantchik

Bağımsızlık Sonrası Gürcistan-Avrupa Birliği İlişkileri

by Uluslararası İlişkiler

Sanem Özer, " Bağımsızlık Sonrası Gürcistan-Avrupa Birliği İlişkileri ", Uluslararası İlişkiler, Cilt 4, Sayı 15 (Güz), 2007

Avrupa Birliği (AB), Sovyetlerin daha uzun vadede beklenen ani yıkılışının yarattığı ilk şaşkınlığı atlatır atlatmaz... more Avrupa Birliği (AB), Sovyetlerin daha uzun vadede beklenen ani yıkılışının yarattığı ilk şaşkınlığı atlatır atlatmaz sınırlarını, eski Sovyet cumhuriyetlerinden oluşan Doğu Avrupa’yı içine alacak şekilde genişletmeye başlamıştır. Karadeniz’in öteki yakasında kalan Güney Kafkasya ülkeleri için ise daha temkinli ve Rusya’nın endişelerini gözönünde bulunduran bir yaklaşım benimsemiştir. Bu nedenle AB-Gürcistan ilişkileri ancak 1999’da Ortaklık ve İşbirliği Anlaşmasının sunduğu çerçeve sayesinde somutlaştırabilmiştir. AB bugün Gürcistan’ın taşıdığı jeostratejik öneminin farkındadır. AB oluşturmaya gayret ettiği Avrupa Güvenlik Mimarisi için de sınırlarını kuşatan bir dost ülkeler kuşağı tasarlamıştır. AB, yumuşak diplomatik “sivil gücü” ve Avrupa Komşuluk Politikası aracılığıyla Gürcistan’ı alternatif enerji kaynakları güzergahı üzerinde “Avrupalılaşmış”, istikrarlı bir ayrıcalıklı ortak olarak yeniden şekillendirmektedir. AB’nin küresel etkinliğini ve küresel enerji pazarında söz sahibi olmasını hedefleyen politikalar Gürcistan’ın Birlik ile bütünleşmesini kaçınılmaz kılmaktadır.

Stable instability of displaced people in Western Georgia: a food-security and gender survey after five years

by Jose Luis Vivero

Intelligent Design? Transforming intelligence in Serbia and Georgia

by Hans Felber Charbonneau

MA Thesis, Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, Carleton University, 2012

The 1990s saw the emergence of authoritarian governments and the outbreak of civil war in the Caucasus and the... more The 1990s saw the emergence of authoritarian governments and the outbreak of civil war in the Caucasus and the Balkans. After a decade of turbulence, the peoples of Georgia and Serbia overthrew corrupt regimes. In both countries, transforming the security and intelligence services that had been pillars of the previous regimes was a priority for the new governments.

This thesis will examine the reform of the security and intelligence services in Georgia and Serbia. It will test the hypothesis that the main challenges to successful reform are a lack of determination on the part of the political elite and institutional continuity with pre-revolutionary services.

Дипломатия Даров и Дарителей

by Juris Gulbis

Дипломатия Даров и Дарителей.

 
 
Активизация дипломатической и иной деятельности Республики... more Дипломатия Даров и Дарителей.

 
 
Активизация дипломатической и иной деятельности Республики Грузия в Тихоокеанском регионе, стремительно набирает темпы после признания рядом стран этого региона независимости Республики Абхазия.
По инициативе и под влиянием авторитетов современной международной политикипостепенно вырисовываются большие и малые фигуры игроков на карте мира  в этой части земного шара.
Признавать или не признавать независимость Абхазии и иных вновь образованных государств? Случайно или нет, но  эта тема особенно остро поднимается в преддверииофициального визита Министра Иностранных дел России на Фиджи и иные государстваэтого региона.
После установления дипломатических отношений между Тувалу с  Абхазией и Южной Осетией этому международному акту суверенных государств господином Richard Marles  была дана весьма  своеобразная оценка. В виде воззвания к мировой общественности : Спасти – «То, что мы видим – это эксплуатация одной из самых маленьких в мире стран».
Можно также предполагать, что крайне «случайно» и совершенно ради добрых соседских отношений 27 января на Фиджи прибыла делегация Грузии с гуманитарной миссией. Во главе с представителем министерства образования, чтобы вручить не большой, но с большим   значением подарок -  200 Нетбуков,  с указанием их стоимости - 53 000 $.
Естественно, нельзя даже  предположить, что  данная миссия представителей Грузии является  дипломатией «Чековых книжек» и не направлена против инициатив Российской делегации.
Может быть,   грузинскому  народу показалось, что дети Фиджи, в отличие  от их собственных, страдают от критической нехватки современных технических средств.Конечно, на фоне впечатляющей картинки грузинского телевидения,  с изображением экзотического государства   Вануату, детям Грузии могло показаться, что на далеких островах Тихого океана люди живут практически в каменном веке, И спасти их от«очередной оккупации великой России» возможно только с помощью персональных компьютеров.
К сожалению, а может быть, и  к счастью в уцелевших памятниках греческой мифологии есть описание Троянской битвы. В ней победили коварные дарители подарков. С тех пор звучит эта мудрость, как назидание потомкам : « Timeo danaos et dona ferentes» «Бойтесь данайцев, дары приносящих».
Тем более, что современные «дарители» подарков знают, что такое реваншиские настроения.  Знают,  что такое кровь своих соседей Абхазов и Осетин.
Попытки создания  Грузинской империи были тоже облачены добрыми намерениями восстановить целостность  их единой исторической родины.  Но при этом, их лидерамибыла предпринята попытка заретушировать историю народов Абхазии и Южной Осетии,  которые живут  на территории современных государств более пяти тысяч лет.
Последние события в мире в очередной раз убеждают нас , что естественная активность России, как могущественной мировой державы, и ее дипломатические шаги  всегда вызывали определенное «неравнодушие» , а порой и резкую критику со стороны лидеров в Тихоокеанском регионе.
Особенно это ярко выражено на фоне свершившихся политических и экономических катаклизмов начала 21 века.
Можно предполагать, что именно этим устаревшим клише воспользуются  «независимые»информационные издания, когда  будут освещать визит Министра Иностранных дел России на Фиджи.
Хотя, по словам официального представителя российского посольства в Канберре,господина Зевахина,   вектор современной внешней политики России в Тихоокеанском регионе обозначен, как «Абсолютно прозрачный». 
Надо понимать, что за визитом Российского Министра будут не только внимательнонаблюдать. Из уст политиков, простуженных еще со  времен Холодной войны, звучат   « кошмарные прогнозы» о якобы начинающемся соперничестве великих держав в Южно-Тихоокеанском регионе. Строятся концепции о расколе данного региона, определяютсястраны-сателлиты и союзники в дипломатических битвах.
На фоне лозунгов о сохранении традиций в Рамках Форума Тихоокеанских островов врядли будут поняты и приняты желания «Народов – новичков» занять достойное место на современной геополитической карте.


Юрис Гулбис

Mission Report 2005: Post-OCHA Transition for UN Coordination in Georgia

by Johannes Chudoba

co-authored with Thekla Kelbert, unpublished draft

Executive Summary
Following many years of discussions within the broader issue of “how to bridge the gap between... more Executive Summary
Following many years of discussions within the broader issue of “how to bridge the gap between relief and development,” the 2004 report of the UNDG/ECHA Working Group on Transition recognized the need for greater support and guidance to UNCTs on the handover of coordination support from OCHA to other actors.
OCHA is often urged to leave well before the need for coordination subsides. In fact, the need for effective, thoroughly agreed assessments, cohesive planning and effective, complementary implementation is greater than ever in the transition phase. The influx of additional actors and the need to build the capacity of local authorities to manage assistance within the context of social service delivery add to the challenges.
In spring 2003, OCHA began downsizing its presence in Georgia, working towards the anticipated closure of its office by the end of 2004. In 2003, discussions on the handover of OCHA’s coordination functions were held, mainly with UNDP, and some functions, such as coordination of initiatives on IDPs and conflict areas, were transferred to UNDP. DGO offered to provide one-year bridging funding for residual humanitarian coordination functions, such as humanitarian advocacy, information management, and the elaboration of the annual humanitarian strategy. The modalities of integrating two former OCHA staff into the UN RC Office were discussed with DGO, and the creation of a ‘Transition Team’ was discussed with and approved by the UNCT.
The HC/RC requested a UNDG mission to help the ‘Transition Team’ identify priority issues and actions. Special attention was given to issues beyond the residual humanitarian coordination functions inherited from OCHA, drawing on experience in other countries.
Endorsing the process led by the RC/HC, the mission came to the following conclusions and recommendations for the UNCT and the Humanitarian Affairs Team within the UNRCO:
To strengthen the cohesion between humanitarian and development coordination, both within the UN and with its partners, it would be helpful to integrate the Humanitarian Affairs Team more full within the RC Office to facilitate a cohesive approach to internal and external coordination.
The current terms of reference of the Humanitarian Affairs Team consist almost exclusively of tasks that are felt to be indispensible. However, almost twice as many human resources would be needed to fully perform these duties within regular working hours. To address this gap in 2005, at least one additional coordination staff should be hired.
For 2006 and beyond, the UNCT should discuss and define its vision of UN coordination in Georgia.
Nobody other than the UNCT can decide what coordination mechanisms it wants and needs. Coordination should, nonetheless, be seen as an opportunity to further improve information flows by bringing them together in a single place, to raise visibility by pooling outreach resources and efforts, and to boost effectiveness through joint planning. By building coordination capacity in the government through joint working-level initiatives (e.g. on disaster risk management, GIS, DevInfo, but also on sectoral coordination) the UN can at the same time strengthen the sustainability and impact of its work.

Procrustean Decisions in Higher Education Admissions: The Case of Georgia_2007

by maia chankseliani

Published by VDM Verlag
ISBN 978-3-639-17922-4

Using service-learning activities for civic identity formation_2006

by maia chankseliani

published in GESJ: Education Sciences and Psychology

This paper argues that mandatory service-learning (SL) activities need to be incorporated in the Georgian national... more This paper argues that mandatory service-learning (SL) activities need to be incorporated in the Georgian national curriculum of citizenship education for senior high school students, grades 10-12. The structure of the paper is as follows. After discussing the possible SL activities that need to be introduced to Georgian students, I pass on to the analysis of the objectives and a four-stage structure of the proposed SL activities. The paper also looks at the teacher’s role in SL as well as some of the problems that teachers may encounter.

K. Sedlenieks, L. Svolkinas, I. Kokle-Narbuta, A. Vētra, 2009. The Experience of NRC ``Vaivari'' in Rehabilitation of Foreign Soldiers INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REHABILITATION RESEARCH, 32, SUPP/1 (2009): S69

by Klavs Sedlenieks

Conference proceedings. A short report on a very short field-work with veterans of Russian-Georgian military conflict... more Conference proceedings. A short report on a very short field-work with veterans of Russian-Georgian military conflict who were being rehabilitated in NRC Vaivari. Among other things - possible cultural misunderstandings about hospitality (based on balanced reciprocity for Latvians and on generalised reciprocity for Georgians) was indicated

Rethinking Georgia

by Shota Khinchagashvili

Review: "Disenchantment: Five Essays on Contemporary Georgia" [in Georgian] by Gigi Tevzadze. Bakur Sulakauri Publishing, Tbilisi, 2009.

Post-Soviet Georgian Nationalism in the Context of Social Memory and Collective Trauma Theories

by Shota Khinchagashvili

MSc Thesis, 2008

The dissertation is a moderate attempt to envisage the phenomenon of nationalism in post-soviet Georgia from the... more The dissertation is a moderate attempt to envisage the phenomenon of nationalism in post-soviet Georgia from the perspective of social memory concept and the theory of cultural trauma. The main research question can be formulated in  following way: how are the basic elements of historical narrative reflected in modern collective memory of Georgians? This a priori necessitates a brief overview and characterisation of traditional Georgian historical narrative. Preliminary analysis suggests that contemporary Georgian national narratives revolve around two main categories: (a) traumatic events evolving around the concepts like pain, loss, acts of injustice, and etc. and (b) pro-western (anti-Russian) orientation as a cultural paradigm. The first category can be better understood in the light of the theory of cultural trauma. Moreover, the latter is also applicable to the contemporary political discourse
that reinterprets recent past the same way; hence it might be named as a cross-generational, constant model in Georgia’s collective memory.