Georgian history reflects the power of memory. The collapse of the USSR and Georgia’s independence in 1991 cannot be understood without an examination of the population’s urge to rediscover its past. The rediscovery of memory and history in Georgia in the 1980s and 1990s was the prelude to a revolution which shattered Soviet Georgia’s legitimacy and reshaped Georgian identity. Memory and history are powerful political tools for any state, and since Georgia’s independence in 1991, successive governments have adopted policies which aim to restructure history through the control of a new national narrative. This panel will explore the ways in which government policies have re-modeled Georgia’s public space with a particular emphasis on the role of maps, museums, and monuments. In what ways have these tools reshaped Georgian identity and overcome competing narratives?
Sponsorship
The Program on Georgian Studies is an activity of the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University and is made possible by a sponsored research award from the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia.
Accessibility
The Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact us at 617-495-4037 or daviscenter@fas.harvard.edu in advance of your participation or visit. Requests for Sign Language interpreters and/or CART providers should be made at least two weeks in advance if possible. Please note that the Davis Center will make every effort to secure services but that services are subject to availability.
