Georgia/ 1. Historical perspective: cultural policies and instruments  

After the October Socialist Revolution of 1917, Georgia became an independent democratic state - the Republic of Georgia - for a short period from 1918-1921. While short, it was a very significant one from a cultural point of view. During this time the foundation was laid for the development of a cultural policy whose main aims were the introduction of democratic processes and the preservation of national identity. A key milestone achievement of this period was the opening of the State University (1918) as a centre of scientific and cultural life in the country.

The period of Soviet influence was as dramatic in Georgia as in other Republics of the Soviet Union. The period between the 1930s-1940s, was an important time for creative freethinking intellectuals, during which "ideology" was predominant and "social realism" was developed. Stalin's period of power (1929-1953) was characterised by unconditional and implicit power over the official culture and ideology.

L. I. Brezhnev's time in office (1964-1981) was a period of stagnation for culture. Alongside the relative loosening of control from Stalin's totalitarian system and some freedom at the periphery of the USSR, Georgian culture experienced a conflict between the bureaucratic-communistic and Georgian national cultures that finally led to the end of the Soviet socialistic culture. Since the late 1980s, i.e. the period of "perestroika", this conflict had been intensified and manifested, for example, in officious and informal activity; communistic bureaucracy and the national liberation movement; and Soviet culture and Georgian national culture based on non-ideologised arts.

During this period, two events had a dramatic effect on the development and establishment of contemporary Georgian mentality and, therefore, on culture in general. In 1978, in connection with the adoption of the revised Constitution of the USSR in Tbilisi, mass marches were held and called for the protection of the Georgian language and for it to maintain its official status. These marches led to the formation of the national liberation movement which was behind the 9 April 1989 anti-Soviet demonstration which was quashed by the Soviet army and led to several tragic deaths. This event signaled the beginning of the disintegration of the USSR.

The paternalistic cultural policy pursued by the Soviet Union had some positive influences on Georgia. It created an extensive network and well-functioning infrastructure of public cultural institutions; a well-shaped and widely accessible academic system of education supporting the arts and science; "high" culture, which was understood as a neutral link in state building; and a growth in mass culture consumption.

Like any other area of activity in Georgia, culture was administered in a centralised manner through the relevant channels. The formula of Soviet official culture adopted in Georgia was "nationalist in its shape and socialist in its content". There were important creative achievements in Georgian theatre, cinema, art and music, created by outstanding artists and cultural workers, notwithstanding the ideological influences. These achievements assisted in developing a national understanding of culture as a system of values which determines and forms national identity and, as a result, unites the nation.

The post-Soviet period in the history and culture of Georgia is complicated and contradictory. Elections were held in 1990 and on 9 April 1991 the Parliament of Georgia unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence (under the first Georgian president Zviad Gamsakhurdia) and led to the establishment of the Republic of Georgia as a new independent state.

This post-Soviet period (from 1990-1992) saw the creation of a differential cultural policy and an aggravation of international problems, particularly those provoked by outside influences. As a result, control was lost over the region of Inner Kartli, formerly the South-Ossetian Autonomous Territory. Furthermore, during the 1991-1992 period, the "Tbilisi War" broke out and the government of Gamsakhurdia was overthrown. Edward Shevardnadze came to power (March 1992) and the political situation stabilised. Peace was established in Georgia and there was an increased drive towards building a new state. This did not last long, however. Supporters of former president Gamsakhurdia engaged in successful military operations in Abkhazia. On 27th September 1993, Georgian authorities lost control over almost all of the territory of the Abkhazian Autonomous Republic.

During the period 1993-2003, Georgia faced financial restrictions and a political overhaul aimed at balancing national and liberal-democratic ideas. The cultural infrastructure that remained from the Soviet period required reform. Cultural policy in Georgia had no clear strategic focus, even though it was declared as one of the state's priorities. Support for the arts was the extent of the reach of the state's policies.

The so called Rose Revolution took place on 23rd November 2003, after which President Shevardnadze retired. Since 2004, the country has being undergoing continuous reforms, including those of a constitutional nature.

During the period 1990-2004, Georgia had 6 different Ministers of Culture. Since 2004, cultural affairs, sports and youth affairs have been combined in one Ministry. Currently there are ongoing structural changes.

Georgia has experienced many political and socio-cultural changes during the 20th century. Those which occurred over the past 15 years were the result of revolution. Given this fact, it has been extremely difficult to install a sustainable system of policy development.  In the field of culture, it has indeed prevented the creation and implementation of a long-term cultural strategy.

The November 2007 crisis in Georgia (the rally carried out by the united opposition forces demanding the restoration of the previous constitutional terms for parliamentary elections established before the amendments made in the Constitution of Georgia as of 2006, the attack pressed by the government against the people on hunger-strike, dispersal of demonstrators and closing of two independent TV companies "Imedi" and "Caucasia" and radio-broadcasting station "Imedi", implementation of the state of emergency all over the territory of Georgia from November 7-16, 2007) has revealed the post-revolution period problems. Calling pre-term presidential elections and plebiscite on restoration of constitutional terms of the parliamentary elections is the only constitutional way out of this crisis.