environment and society

Small Hotel Industry in Ajara: Main Aspects of the Post-Pandemic Recovery

2024-12-18T13:19:54+04:00

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial negative impact on the tourism economy in the Autonomous Republic of Ajara. A comprehensive scientific study examining the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism in the region, specifically focusing on the small hotel industry and the subsequent recovery phase, has not been carried out to date. This paper is the first attempt to fill this gap. The study was carried out in July and November 2021-2023 within the scope of the targeted scientific-research grant project of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. Ajara is a unique region in Georgia that has experienced significant tourism growth since the country won independence. Prior to the pandemic, tourists’ influx to Ajara in 2018-2019 stood at approximately 2 million visitors while in 2020, this figure decreased by 4 times and more. In 2022 post-COVID 19 period, the number of foreigners reached 4,7 million, surpassing the previous year's total by 173%. However, the number of visitors would not be so large if it were not for the high international mobility of the population from our neighboring Slavic countries due to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. The objectives of the study were to identify the main strategy for the post-pandemic recovery of the tourism industry in Ajara, the effectiveness of government support and changes in the activities of small hotels in the region. The subject of the study is the small hotels of Ajara, which are located in the coastal area of the region ‒ city of Batumi, town of Kobuleti and the resort settlement of Gonio. The paper uses a qualitative research method in the form of in-depth interviews and discourse analysis. The research tool is a discussion plan for target groups - owners/managers of small hotels. The study found that neither the central government nor the government of the autonomous republic could develop a post-pandemic tourist recovery strategy. However, the recovery of tourism occurred rapidly, partly due to the flow of tens of thousands of residents from the warring nations and Belarus into Georgia as a consequence of the Russia-Ukraine war. While a portion of them have departed the country, the remaining individuals have established their own bubbles (including in the tourism industry), serving specifically their ethnic segment. Consequently, the entrepreneurial activity of Georgian citizens is significantly impaired. Tourism in Georgia has primarily evolved in an unplanned manner. Insufficient focus is given to the introduction of business innovations or the engagement of all stakeholders in the field. This is particularly evident in the small hotel industry. The enactment of the Law on Agents of Foreign Influence in May 2024 prompted the mobilization of large-scale demonstrations in Tbilisi, Batumi and other urban centers across the nation. The Georgian tourism sector's rehabilitation process can be severely hindered by political instability, potentially causing serious harm.

Crime and Corruption in Soviet and Post-Soviet Russia

2024-12-18T13:21:57+04:00

This paper analyzes state terror, organized crime, and corruption during the Soviet period from 1917 to 1991 and during the reign of the first Russian President Boris Yeltsin from 1991-1999. This helps to better understand the prerequisites for the formation of the modern Russian state under the leadership of Vladimir Putin. Today various researchers consider the Russian Federation as a mafia, criminal, or gangster state. The article helps to understand that Putinism did not arise out of nowhere, but is rooted in the Soviet and post-Soviet past.

Discussion of issues of state terrorism, organized crime and corruption during the Soviet era was limited and information was controlled. The extent of these problems became more apparent after the collapse of the USSR in December 1991, when archives were opened and scientists gained greater access to previously classified information. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, some of these problems persisted in the post-Soviet states, and only in the Baltic states and Georgia did positive changes occur. Today corruption and crime remain particularly important problems in the Russian Federation.

Challenges of Higher Education in Georgia: Implementation of Academic Social Responsibility during the Covid19 Pandemic.

2024-12-18T13:23:44+04:00

The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated significant transformations in the educational system, leading to a transition from traditional face-to-face instruction to remote formats. Within Georgia, particular challenges have emerged concerning internet accessibility and the availability of necessary technical resources. This article aims to scrutinize the measures undertaken by higher education institutions to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of educational activities during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess their efficacy in fulfilling their academic social responsibilities. Through 25 in-depth interviews with academic and administrative personnel from higher education institutions and a survey encompassing 1,815 students, it was discovered that despite concerted efforts, universities struggled to assume a supportive role during the pandemic. The curriculum suffered disruptions, resulting in inadequate provision of education to vulnerable student demographics. Despite the implementation of instructional videos, training sessions, and guidelines, certain academic staff encountered difficulties in effectively delivering lectures via electronic platforms, consequently impacting the quality of teaching. Practical components, particularly those involving laboratory work, were notably affected. Consequently, students enrolled in medical programs had to adopt a hybrid learning approach, with remote lectures and on-site laboratory sessions. Consequently, representatives from the medical field criticized the inadequate support provided by universities during this period. Furthermore, despite institutional efforts to enhance educational accessibility, particularly from a financial standpoint, it was not possible to prevent the suspension of student statuses due to economic hardships. On a positive note, it should be said that efforts were made to digitize Georgian language learning materials to mitigate barriers faced by students. However, instances were reported in private universities where access to learning materials incurred charges, impeding student engagement. The findings of this study underscore the array of challenges faced by state universities in fulfilling their academic responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting private institutions to prioritize support for vulnerable students and prospective applicants, thus underscoring their academic and societal roles. Based on the comprehensive evaluation, it was discerned that higher educational institutions, amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritized the fulfillment of internal aspects of academic social responsibility, albeit at the expense of addressing external components to a lesser degree. Nevertheless, shortcomings persisted within the intra-university learning framework, indicating flaws in the educational process. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the landscape of higher education in Georgia, disrupting the teaching-learning process and diminishing access to quality education. Nevertheless, it has also brought about positive effects, such as alleviating financial and time constraints for students, alongside reducing daily expenses.

The Power of National Identity in the Foreign Policy of Georgia

2024-12-18T13:27:37+04:00

The article discusses the factors that influence the formation and determination of Georgia's foreign policy orientation, with a particular focus on the relationship between national identity and foreign policy. For Georgia, being a small and geopolitically complex state, foreign policy orientation plays a crucial role in protecting and preserving the country's security, sovereignty, identity, territorial integrity, and independence.

It should be noted that, for any sovereign state, foreign policy is the most important tools of realizing national interests. A correct foreign policy course ensures the fulfillment of national interests and a rightful place in the international system. Furthermore, it's worth noting that for Georgia, a small and weak country, the protection and preservation of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity has been of vital importance both since the collapse of the Soviet Union and in the present day. Consequently, national interests serve as the primary determining factor in shaping the country's foreign policy orientation. As previously mentioned, the national interests of the state determine the foreign policy. However, when analysing the formation of foreign policy orientation, it is essential to consider factors such as the national identity. According to the theory of constructivism, national identity has a significant impact on a state's foreign policy, and therefore, the subject of constructivism's study is the relationship between national identity and the state's foreign policy. Constructivism considers identity as an empirical issue to be examined within a historical context. Historical experiences play a significant role in national identity formation and therefore it is impossible to separate national identity from history. The country's future depends on the choices people make from its history, how they envision themselves as a community, and their ongoing efforts to reshape the nation.

The article reviews national identity formation and addresses various aspects, including the structure of society, which consists of a social cognitive structure and within which many discursive formations function. Identity constitutes these formations. Discursive formations and identity represent a social cognitive structure. When forming foreign policy orientation, it is important to take into account issues such as cultural values, past experience, etc. To understand the dynamics of foreign policy creation, it is essential to assess how the identity has developed and what new intellectual factors the polity has internalized. A polity’s national identity is very much a result of how it percepts its history - opinions and perceptions that collect over time and form a society’s “collective memory”. Discussion of the relationship between foreign policy and national identity and the power of national identity in the formation of foreign policy orientation is the main and key issue of the article. To characterize the national identity of Georgia and justify the relevance of the issue, the article will focus one of the dominant foreign policy courses - the Western orientation of the country.

The significance of the Black Sea in reinforcing Russia's position as a powerful maritime state

2024-12-18T13:28:50+04:00

The end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union resulted in a new order within the international system. The shift from a bipolar to a unipolar world led to the complete dominance of the United States. The Russian political elite struggled to accept this new environment characterized by U.S. hegemony. It continuously sought to establish a multipolar world, which it believed would restore Russia's status as a significant power. In Russia's view, a multipolar world would challenge America's unchallenged dominance and provide Moscow with an opportunity to regain the influence it held during the Soviet era.

The Kremlin believed it could only secure this status by maintaining its influence in its so-called neighborhood, referring to the post-Soviet space. As a result, throughout the Cold War, Russia's relations with Washington and its Western strategic partners were marked by both partnership and competition. Russia collaborated with the West on issues that did not pertain to the post-Soviet space. However, Russian policy became uncompromising and confrontational whenever interests clashed in that region. This competition was most clearly illustrated in the context of the Black Sea and the surrounding region.

During the Cold War, the Kremlin enjoyed a relatively stable influence in the Black Sea region. At that time, Russia's only significant rival was NATO member Turkey, and the Montreux Convention governed their maritime relations. The other countries bordering the Black Sea were either part of the Soviet Union or aligned with the socialist camp. However, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the landscape changed to Russia's disadvantage, resulting in the emergence of six states in the region: Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Russia, Georgia, and Ukraine. In 2004, Bulgaria and Romania joined NATO, while Georgia and Ukraine expressed aspirations for membership. This shift represented a significant decline in Russia's status as a strong state and regional power.

In response, the Kremlin began striving to reclaim its status as a strong state by pursuing a policy of becoming a mighty maritime nation. For Putin, land power was deemed unattainable without control of the sea. This article explores the significance of elevating Russia's status as a maritime state within its foreign policy. It examines its impact on the balance of power in the Black Sea, focusing on the pre-war situation of 2022 as the research period.

The Making of the South Caucasus Region: a Geographical Approach

2024-12-18T13:30:05+04:00

The region of the South Caucasus bounded by Russia to the north, Iran to the south, and Turkey to the southwest stands at a crossroads of cultural and geopolitical interactions. It is a perceptual region primarily linked by the territorial proximity of three states – Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, but lacking significant cultural-geographical similarities. Internal economic links are relatively weak. Three states of the region have different, often opposing, geopolitical codes. The region is examined from a historical-geographical point of view and in a wider geopolitical context as it represents certain interest to the closest regional superpowers and the other global geopolitical players farther away.

The Impact of a Debate Program on Adolescents’ Conflict Resolution Skills.

2024-12-18T13:33:26+04:00

Abstract

In addition to academic education, non-formal education is crucial for the development of communication skills among young people and, accordingly, for the formation of skills necessary for constructive debate, which is of the utmost importance for a modern citizen working in any field. Because of all this, in the XXI century, humanity is faced with the seemingly unimaginable challenge of lacking basic communication skills. In order to facilitate this, such kind of teachings are needed, which would be the best way for a modern human to adapt to the current environment. We investigated the significance of one of the most popular and effective training programs of informal education in this direction - formal debate techniques. The practice of teaching formal debates has been introduced in the world for many years and has already been actively implemented in Georgia and plays an important role in dealing with the challenges of modern digitalization.

The research goal is to understand how a debate training program affects both short-term and long-term self-image parameters of youth and adults that change during personality development. By self-image we mean the following types of self-characteristics: self-esteem, self-presentation and self-control. In addition, the study addresses the impact of formal debates on constructive reasoning and, therefore, conflict management skills in the target audience; Since, in the current reality, conflict is one of the most urgent problems, both in everyday and professional life.

The research hypothesis is to determine the effect on self-image in students who will undergo a full course of formal debate training and how this is reflected in changes in personality characteristics relevant to conflict management, such as self-esteem, self-presentation, self-control and conflict management skills.

The members of the target group were students and teachers of those schools where debate teaching was successfully introduced and debate clubs are actively functioning. Both quantitative and qualitative studies were conducted, in which students of debate clubs and teachers (that were heads of debate clubs) from all regions of Georgia participated.