ეთნიკური უმცირესობების აკულტურაცია საქართველოში

This thesis focuses on the acculturation strategies of ethnic minorities within Georgia, a multicultural country with various ethnic and religious groups coexisting in concentrated regions. The two largest ethnic groups in Georgia are the Armenians and Azeris, and due to the specific nature of living in Georgia and the cultural characteristics of these ethnic groups, minority communities face diverse challenges during the integration process. The objective of this thesis is to investigate the acculturation strategies employed by Armenians and Azeris residing in Georgia, drawing upon two theoretical frameworks: Berry's contextual model of acculturation (1997, 2005) and the interactional model of acculturation (IAM) proposed by Bourhis et al. (1997).
The thesis employs a mixed methods approach, consisting of both qualitative (in-depth interviews) and quantitative (survey) research methodologies. The initial stage involves conducting in-depth interviews with 15 field experts in the field, followed by a quantitative survey administered to representatives of ethnic minorities, with a participation rate of 452 individuals. To further analyze the quantitative data collected, 42 interviews are conducted with ethnic minorities. In the last phase, a quantitative survey is carried out among individuals of the ethnic Georgian population to assess their attitudes towards Armenians and Azeris. The findings of this study reveal variations in the choice of acculturation strategies among ethnic minorities (Armenians and Azeris) residing in Georgia, as well as distinct attitudes of ethnic Georgians towards different minority groups. Ethnic Georgians demonstrate more positive attitudes towards ethnic Azeris, whereas they hold negative perceptions of ethnic Armenians. However, despite these attitudes, ethnic Armenians tend to prefer integration as their acculturation strategy, whereas ethnic Azeris lean towards separation. The research identifies factors such as age, education, proficiency in the Georgian language, self-esteem, loneliness, and locus of control as closely associated with the selection of acculturation strategies.
The research novelty lies in the application of a bidirectional acculturation model within the context of Georgia, along with the first-time assessment of ethnic Georgians' attitudes towards ethnic minorities. Given the practical nature of this research, specific recommendations areformulated for policymaking institutions engaged in the field of ethnic minority affairs.