Understanding the Concept of Nation in Georgian Periodicals in 1893-1917

Abstract

This work was supported by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia (SRNSFG) [№ FR-24-17422] This study examines the concept of the nation as reflected in Georgian periodicals between 1893 and 1917. The selected timeframe corresponds to the formative stage of the modern Georgian nation, during which the cultural phase of nation-building was completed mainly, and the political phase was emerging. Understanding the characteristics of the modern Georgian nation thus requires a historical perspective. The topic is particularly relevant as it explores how the press contributed to both cultural and political nation-building during a period when periodicals actively sought to awaken national sentiment and introduce Western theories of nation to the Georgian public. Notably, during this period, newspapers such as Kvali, characterised by their party alignment, began to appear. The role of the press in the formation and consolidation of the nation is crucial, as periodicals were a primary means of disseminating information—especially at a time when literacy rates were increasing. However, the topic also presents particular challenges, given that Georgia was part of the Russian Empire at the time. Press distribution and the impact of "print capitalism" are complex phenomena to study due to the pervasive censorship of the era. In some cases, censorship was so severe that publishing had to be relocated abroad, as was the case with the newspaper Sakartvelo. Giorgi Laskhishvili observed that it was nearly impossible to raise or discuss national issues in the press under Tsarist censorship. He even noted that throughout an entire year, the phrase "local national self-government" could not escape censorship. This context makes the analysis of the press particularly compelling, as Georgian political and public figures had to find ways to utilise periodicals to convey the essence of the nation and explain its significance to readers.  This study aims to explore the narratives constructed around the concept of nation and the national question in Georgian periodicals between 1893 and 1917, to identify the main trends, and to highlight the key issues discussed across different publications. Accordingly, the research objectives are as follows: 1) To analyse the narratives of left-wing periodicals regarding the national question between 1893 and 1917; 2) To examine the content of periodicals (e.g., “Iveria”, “Tsnobis Purtseli”) that frequently addressed the importance of the national question during the research period; 3) To identify the core features through which different publications approached the concept of nation and the national question in the course of press analysis. Research Question: What trends can be identified in the way the concept of nation and the national question were discussed in Georgian periodicals between 1893 and 1917? The conceptual framework of the study is grounded in the modernist theory of nationalism, specifically drawing on Benedict Anderson’s influential concept of “print capitalism” as articulated in his seminal work "Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism". The case of the formation of the modern Georgian nation can, to a certain extent, be interpreted through Anderson’s theoretical lens. The emphasis on strengthening the local language—often initiated by the first generation of elites returning from the “metropole”—resonates with the role played by Georgian intellectuals active in the 1860s. According to Anderson, the first stage of nation formation concludes when the vernacular language becomes the language of newspapers and books, leading to the nation perceiving itself as a cultural community. This phase is followed by a growing awareness of the need for political unity, ultimately culminating in the aspiration for statehood. From 1893 onward, political groups and parties emerging in Georgia actively utilised the press to disseminate their ideas and engage in debates with their opponents through a series of letters and articles. Print media was intended not only for political elites but for broader segments of society. In terms of its societal influence, Anderson famously referred to newspapers and journals as “one-day bestsellers,” emphasising their role in shaping collective consciousness. This research is qualitative in nature and employs a discourse analysis method. Discourse analysis was chosen as the most appropriate method for examining the press, allowing for the investigation of how political groups and parties constructed and disseminated discourses on the national question through Georgian periodicals between 1893 and 1917. A key focus was the examination of debates among Georgian political and public figures conducted through the press. Based on this, the study identifies particularly resonant publications on the national question—texts that received significant public attention and prompted responses in the form of reply articles. The study adopts a particular strand of discourse analysis known as the “text and textuality” approach. The research revealed that periodicals from 1893 to 1917 generally lacked terminological clarity, and both political and scholarly circles of the time rarely engaged in conceptual-level analysis of the national question. Instead, the press tended to focus on topics such as nationality, national character, and the significance of autonomy. When the concept of the nation was addressed in the press, it was typically within the broader context of posing the national question as a problem—often accompanied by attempts to identify possible solutions.