Identity Narratives of Megrelians in Georgia Since the Dissolution of the USSR

What is it about?

Nationalisation, as an attempt to homogenise cultural and linguistic identities within emerging nation-states, often clashes with deeply rooted regional and sub-ethnic identities. These identities are not mere relics of the past, but active parts of the negotiation process between the state and local communities. As a post-Soviet state with a rich history of regional and cultural differences, Georgia offers a fascinating case study of nationalisation. The Megrelians, a sub-ethnic group with their own language and traditions, illustrate the dynamics linking the drive for state homogenisation with the resilience and adaptation of sub-ethnic identities. Based on field research conducted in October 2022, the study reveals that Megrelians identify as a community connected through language, history, traditions, and regional ties. Their distinction from Georgians is understood regionally rather than ethnically, making the two identities complementary and overlapping, rather than mutually exclusive. Efforts to separate Megrelians from Georgians are widely seen as part of a historical Russian divide and rule strategy. This perception has been heightened by the conflicts of the 1990s and the ongoing war in Ukraine, reinforcing a strong sense of belonging to the broader Georgian identity.

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