Project Title: From Ethnic Conflict to Ethnic Violence: Socio-psychological factors determining transformation of ethnic conflict into violence (case study - Georgia).

PhD Project Duration: October 2010 - May 2011

Ilia State UniversitySchool of Graduate StudiesPhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

Objective of the Project:

Identify main factors determining development of the ethnic conflict into ethnic violence:

MaterialNonmaterial Elite manipulation

Ilia State UniversitySchool of Graduate StudiesPhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

Main Research Question:

Which factors have been important in the Georgia –South Ossetia conflict to break out in violence?

Ilia State UniversitySchool of Graduate StudiesPhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

Hypotheses:

Ideology and State Propaganda (raise of nationalist movement in Georgia in 1990s);

Relative Deprivation (perceived discrepancy between value expectations and value capabilities in ethnic minorities – South Ossetians);

Lack of Legitimacy of new Georgian government;

Lack of Strong State Institutions;

Social Practice of Memory: the past experience of Independence lived by ethnic groups during Soviet Union.

Ilia State UniversitySchool of Graduate StudiesPhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

Methodology: In order to examine the main objective of the project Qualitative Research

Methods will be used, such as:

Focus groupsInterviewsParticipant observation

Ilia State UniversitySchool of Graduate StudiesPhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

Phases of Research:

I. Literature Review (Desk Research);

II. Qualitative Research - Preliminary Stage;

III. Qualitative research - Central Stage;

IV. Data Processing;

V. Data Analysis;

VI. Final Analysis.

Ilia State UniversitySchool of Graduate StudiesPhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

I phase

II phase

III phase

IV phase

V Phase

VIPhase

Literature Review

Focus Groups (preliminary):designing the questionnaire

Interviews with the “Main Sample”

Data processing

Data analyzing

Final analyses

Ilia State UniversitySchool of Graduate StudiesPhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

Problems, Remaining Doubts:

Economic factors in conflict transformation (Importance of analysing economic factors determining

transformation of ethnic conflict into ethnic violence. How can overlook of economic factors in conflict transformation influence outcomes of the research).

Ilia State UniversitySchool of Graduate StudiesPhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

Factors determining outbreak of ethnic violence:

Relative deprivation

Discrepancy between value expectations and value capabilities;Frustration/Aggression; Ethnic exclusion.

Ilia State UniversitySchool of Graduate StudiesPhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

Relative deprivation

Discrepancy between value expectations and value capabilities

↓Frustration/Aggression

↓

VIOLENCEAs means of revealing discontent

Ilia State UniversitySchool of Graduate StudiesPhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

Factors determining outbreak of ethnic violence:

Main open questions from your perspective:

Did the combination of state and ethnic interests of Georgia complicate it’s motivation in conflict with South Ossetia?

Is it possible to fully analyze the factors influencing ethnic conflict transformation into ethnic violence without focusing on economic interests of its participants?

Ilia State UniversitySchool of Graduate StudiesPhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

Thank You

Ilia State UniversitySchool of Graduate StudiesPhD Student: Natalia Machabeli