Social Activity and Inactivity in the South Caucasus: A Comparative Analysis of Georgian and Azerbaijani Societies.

Abstract

Recent debate on the role of civil society and social capital in newly independent states has raised a variety of theoretical and empirical questions. These questions center upon the importance these factors play in nation-building as these societies formulate their civil structures,

national values and philosophies. This discussion has included a wide audience in both North America and Europe with a broad impact beyond the walls of academia as these new countries struggle with their lack of experience in establishing social frameworks, often without recognition of the population's overall social orientation or preferences. Unfortunately, this lack leads not only to a failure to consider critical• factors in designing these emerging societies but also ignores the process itself in those countries. The predominant refrain in the debate attaches tremendous significant role to voluntary associations and relationships between individuals in the society. Participation in such groups produces social capital which, in turn, is considered the main factor for the collective action and social activeness of the society.

The primary objective of this paper is to contribute to a broader understanding of social capital and social activeness differences of smaller, newly-independent states in general by using the recent examples from the formation of Azerbaijani and Georgian social capital characteristics. The objective of this paper is to explore the differences between the Azerbaijani and Georgian societal development and the reason why Georgian society is more socially active than Azerbaijan's. The primary goal is to understand how the selected variables of national identity, civil society, pre-soviet and soviet past, and the religious composition of the two societies have affected the development process. The question of how Georgians came to be more socially active than Azerbaijanis is the critical question for consideration of these factors. Alongside with deep analyze of national identity of Georgians and Azerbaijanis, the research project examines

the emergence of civil society in Georgia and Azerbaijan. This study also examines the perceptions of Islam in a Muslim society while investigating the role of religion in the formulation of a country's social capital. What were the primary concepts of Islam which affected elements of Azerbaijani society with regard to their social activeness? Finally, this paper also investigates selected factors of the pre-Soviet and Soviet past of both countries with regard to the effect on the long-term social development of both peoples.

To conduct the research, the background of the research will be established. The first chapter begins with the theoretical foundation which focuses on theories of Social Capital. Additionally, there is a review of the methodology, existing literature and the research design included. The scheme of the research is demonstrated in order to make it clear to the audience which variables will be tested. The chapter covers relevant questions on the theoretical and methodological approaches of the current research. Once the theoretical and methodological approach have been identified and explored, the next chapter highlights differences between Azerbaijani and Georgian societies. By examining facts of social influences during the last two centuries, we see that the two societies are very different and begin to consider how the variables have influenced the current societies of the two countries. Starting from the early years of the nineteenth century till the beginning of twenty-first century, several facts will be given and analyzed in order to prove the assumption about the difference.

The third chapter will analyze the three variables of sense of civil society, national identity, dominant religion and pre-Soviet and Soviet past of the two countries with the aim of find which of them are more influential in creating the two different societies which have passed almost the same historical development path. It will be argued that civil society, national identity and pre-Soviet and Soviet past affected the social capital and social activeness in Azerbaijan and Georgia. As a result, different levels of social capital emerged in two neighboring states.

Meanwhile, some concepts of Islam and Christianity will be explored. This will enable us to understand how Islam can prevent the population of a Muslim country from being socially active.

In the Conclusion section of the thesis, the findings of the work will be stated.