The Effect of Destalinization on the Development of Georgian Nationalism in 1960’s – Case of March 9 th , 1956 Events

The Effect of Destalinization on the Development of Georgian Nationalism in 1960’s – Case of
March 9
th
, 1956 Events
Most of the current problems in Georgia have its root in the Soviet period. It is important, to
study the effects of Soviet policies on the developments in Georgia that have the effect up until
today.
The subject of this research is the Destalinization policy initiated by Nikita Khrushchev and its
effect on the development of Georgian nationalism. The aim is to understand the extent of this
effect and the reasons behind it. For this reason the objectives are to first examine the Soviet
policies of institutionalizing nationality, national policies elaborated and implemented by Stalin
in every Soviet republic, including Georgia to assert his role in developing the notion of Georgian
nation and Georgianness in the Soviet Union. Following this to determine whether these policies
and their results had any impact on the events of March 9
, 1956 and why did the secret speech
become a trigger that set it off and finally to look at the nationalist groups in Georgia after March
events, at the aims and motivations behind the activities conducted by these groups and the ideas
of their leaders and members to see whether they were inspired or otherwise affected by
abovementioned events. The Hypothesis that this research aims to prove is that Destalinization
and denouncing Stalin’s cult had a symbolic effect on the later development of Georgian
nationalism.
th
Thus the independent variable is the Destalinization policy started by Khrushchev that resulted
in March events in 1956 and the dependent variable is the later development of underground
Georgian nationalist movements at the end of the 1950’s and the beginning of 1960’s.
This research takes previously existing views on the effects of March events on Georgian
nationalism in general and locates specific evidence for this claim and in the process discovers
new aspects of this process.