Ivane Javakishvili and the Georgian Political Spectrum

Abstract

The article deals with the attitudes of Ivane Javakishvili to the Georgian political parties. The method of content analysis is applied to the study of his works, archival materials, newspaper publications  and socio-political activities. There could be the two approaches to consider the attitudes of Ivane Javakishvili to the political parties of Georgia: on the one hand Ivane Javakishvili as a historian was interested in the ongoing political processes in the country and largely discussed the issues of political party formation and their activities. In this respect his work: “A Short Review of the History of Georgia” 1912) should be highlighted in particular which is dedicated to the description of those-times two political parties acting in Georgia: Social Democrats and Social-Federalists. On the other hand, Ivane Javakishvili was directly involved in the political life f the country and as he himself mentioned this was an active civic position. According to this viewpoint Javakishvili was a liberal nationalist but took the national and democratic approach to the ongoing events. His ideological position determined his attitudes to the political parties of Georgia. Ivane Javakishvili was not a member of any political parties, but he was an active supporter of any political party with national aspirations. The three period could be differentiated in the attitudes of Ivane Javakishvili to the political parties of Georgia: Before the restoration of independence (1895-1917) – during this period Ivane Javakishvili was close to the Social-Federalist Party and actively cooperated with its famous representatives (Archil Jorjadze, Samson Pirtskhalava, Kita Abashidze). Due to this relationship the political police of the Russian Empire considered it as one of the leaders of the Federalist Party. The national program of the federalists was acceptable for Javakishvili but he did not share with the socialist aspirations of this party. While Social Demcrats took a nihilist position towards the national issue and did not think of restoration of the statehood of Georgia Ivane Javakishvili considered it impossible to cooperate with this political party. The  Social-Democrats had also anmity towards Ivane Javakishvili. The period of the Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918-1921) – Ivane Javaklishvili actively cooperated with the National-Democratic Party and in particular with the “Union of Nonpartians”. The cooperation of Ivane Javakishvili with the Social-Democratic Party became possible only after its U-turn for the defence of the national-state interests of Georgia. Ivane Javakishvili as an expert was included by the Social-Democratic government of Georgia in the resolution of different statehood issues of the country, first and foremost in the historical justification of the borders of the Democratic Republic of Georgia. Ivane Javakishvili formed the conception of historical strategic borders of Georgia within which the Georgian state could survive and develop.  During the discussion of attitudes of Ivane Javakishvili to the political parties its attitudes to the  “Union of Nonpartians” should be highlighted in particular. He was at the party list of this political party during the elections of the Constituent Assembly (1919). Ivane Javakishvili was the member of the governing council of the “Union of Nonpartians” comprised out of the 12 members. It seems the main postulates of the “Union of Nonpartians” was the most acceptable for Ivane Javakishvili: a). Defense and strengthening of Georgia as an independent democratic state; b). Georgia’s political, social and economic development on the bases of democracy; c). Theoretical and practical work. Preparation of expert opinion on the issues of development of the country and their presentation to the political parties.  The harsh political confrontation between parties was unacceptable for Ivane Javakishvili and he supported their cooperation in the resolution of the national-state affairs. The “Union of Nonpartians” was giving a good opportunity for the cooperation between different political parties. In January 1921 “Union of Nonpartians” Joined the newly Democratic party, which was joined by those-days non-socialist parties. The new political party was preparing for the upcoming parliamentary elections which should be held in Autumns of 1921. But the Soviet occupation of Georgia took it to a different way. The Soviet Period (1921- 1940) – Ivane Javakishvili was sympathetic towards the political parties striving for the restoration of independence, although he did not have any connections with them. He also supported students involved in the national-liberation movement. His relations with the Communist Party in the government lists long years of persecution during which he tries to use the opportunity of doing national deeds (defending the idea of autonomy of the Georgian university, taking care of developments of the Georgian science).