Georgia’s European Ways
This is where Georgia’s future belongs

‘Georgia’s European Ways’ is a collection of essays by eminent Georgian thinkers from various fields exploring the origins of Georgia’s European identity and its ancient culture. 

‘Georgia’s European Ways’ seek to present how the Georgian political, cultural and esthetic imagination defined the idea of Europe in the minds of Georgians and to explain why Georgia pursues its 'European Dream' so passionately.

The presentation of this book is planned in dozens of European cities. Photo by the press office of State Minister on Euro-Atlantic Integration.

The edition aims to present the multiple facets of Georgia’s European origins and identity. It was officially launched in the European Parliament, Brussels, on February 24, 2016 at an event hosted by Member of European Parliament (MEP) Clare Moody from Social-Democratic Party in the United Kingdom.

The book launch attracted guests from European institutions, the private sector, think-tanks and academics, who heard first-hand from the book’s editor Zurab Karumidze, one of the book’s authors Ketevan Kintsurashvili, Georgian Ambassador to the EU Natalie Sabanadze and well-known Byzentine literature scholar Bernard Coulie, about Georgia’s ongoing quest to return to its European roots.

Due to its long history and geographic location, Georgia is a country of many influences and a place where cultures and traditions have mixed and merged”, explained Natalie Sabanadze.

The book launch attracted guests from European institutions, the private sector, think-tanks and academics.  Photo by the press office of State Minister on Euro-Atlantic Integration.

Not unlike Georgia, Europe itself is a melting pot of cultures and civilizations.

We have tried for a long time to define what ‘European’ language or identity is – the language of Europe is translation”, stated Zurab Kuramidze, quoting Umberto Eco: "Europeans are united in diversity”.

Zurab Karumidze, editor of the book. Photo by the press office of State Minister on Euro-Atlantic Integration.

Not unlike Georgia, Europe itself is a melting pot of cultures and civilizations.

Bernard Coulie further explained that identity is just a feeling – "a sense of belonging to a group because we feel we share characteristics”.

As MEP Clare Moody said, "Georgia and Europe share many commonalities in their law, literature and wider cultural aspects”.

Georgian Ambassador to the EU Natalie Sabanadze (on the right) and well-known Byzentine literature scholar Bernard Coulie are discussing Georgia's European Ways. Photo by the press office of State Minister on Euro-Atlantic Integration.

Particularly Georgia, despite the weight of its Soviet past, has experienced many of the influences which have successively captured European artistic movements: renaissance, modernism and even baroque. All have made appearances on the Georgian cultural landscape.

Ketevan Kintsurashvili explained how Tbilisi became the ‘new Paris’ in the early 1920s, with the emergence of artistic cafés in the city’s "European” district.

Ketevan Kintsurashvili speaks about European influences on Georgia's art and lifestyle of early 1920s. Photo by the press office of State Minister on Euro-Atlantic Integration.

Since gaining independence in 1991, Georgia’s foreign policy has unambiguously been pro-European; the latest developments being the signature and implementation of the Association Agreement with the European Union and progress towards visa liberalisation.

I am sure Georgian society may argue a lot about many things but as far as our European identity is concerned all major political parties agree. This is where Georgia’s future belongs.

Read the full digital version of the book and discover ‘Georgia’s European Ways’ on this link.