The Identity of Ossetians in Georgia: the Example of Lagodekhi and Kaspi Cover Image

Gürcistan Osetlerinde Kimlik: Lagodekhi ve Kaspi Örneği
The Identity of Ossetians in Georgia: the Example of Lagodekhi and Kaspi

Author(s): Keisuke Wakizaka
Subject(s): Regional Geography, Social history, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies
Published by: Serkan YAZICI
Keywords: Georgia; Ossetians; Identity; Diaspora; Motherland-Diaspora- Host Society Relations;

Summary/Abstract: This article focuses on the current situation of identity, relations with Georgian society and those with North-South Ossetia of Ossetians in Shida- Kartli and Kakheti. Generally, Ossetians in Georgia are integrated with high degree. In this condition they define themselves as minority. They make efforts to keep cultural border with Georgians against assimilation through things such as demand of developmet of cultural rights and there is certain distance between Ossetians and Georgians. They evaluate North-South Ossetia as “the motherland of their ancestors, culture and nation”. Therefore Ossetians in Georgia have identity like “diaspora identity”. But because of the tensions between “motherland”-“host country”, they emphasize “the unity of Georgians and Ossetians” for legitimacy of being in Georgia and want easy pass between Georgia and North-South Ossetia rather than the independence of South Ossetia. Beside “diaspora identity” has more developed among Ossetians in Lagodekhi due to ethnic policy of the USSR.

  • Issue Year: 2/2017
  • Issue No: Spec.issue
  • Page Range: 636-658
  • Page Count: 23
  • Language: Turkish