Journal of Social Sciences

9-25

Authors: Tamar AMASHUKELI

Abstract This study examines the role of the Russian media in affecting public opinion in Russia regarding the Russian intervention in 2008. The largest armed conflict in Europe since Kosovo in 1999, the August 2008 war was fought between Georgia and Russia over the proclaimed independence of the Georgian separate governments of Abkhazia and South Ossetia which were supported by Russia. Russia intervened militarily and recognized the independence of the two separatist regions, supported by an overwhelming majority of the Russian population. This study analyzes the role of the Russian media in affecting the Russian public opinion regarding its government’s policies in relation to Georgia. The method used for study is discourse analysis, and the theoretical framework underlying the research is Barry Buzan’s (et al., 1998) concept of securitization and Edward Herman’s and Noam Chomsky’s (1988) concept of manufacturing consent which was later elaborated by Anthony DiMaggio (2009). The trends identified in the mainstream Russian media coverage may at least partly account for the positive opinion of the Russian public towards the intervention. The study also revealed the contrasting trends characterizing the mainstream and alternative Russian media coverage, thus once again confirming the crucial role of the media in establishing the different opinions among the public, by “building” contrasting images of the world. Keywords: Abkhazia, armed conflict, Buzan, Chomsky, coverage, DiMaggio, discourse analysis, Herman, independence, manufacturing consent, recognition, securitization, separatist regions, South Ossetia War

27-33

Authors: Baia IVANEISHVILI

Abstract The article aims to explain the foreign policy doctrine of the Barack Obama administration, describe the core principles and assumptions it is based on and in this context, analyze the concrete steps it undertook in international relations. It is well-known that Barack Obama’s foreign policy is based on an important recognition. Namely, the world has become much more multipolar today than it was even ten years ago. This means that America can no longer be the only state that dictates its order to the world. Therefore, America should no longer be the only state responsible for providing the global “public goods” as well. However, world still needs the US’s leadership. Today, America is the only state that possesses the necessary power and influence to lead in dealing with the issues, such as the maintenance of the open and stable economic system, climate change and global warming, nuclear proliferation, the fight against international crime etc., and succeed in involving all relevant global players in the process as they are common for all. The US leadership, as well as the peaceful evolution of the international order depends on how America succeeds to engage the world’s leading states into the cooperation for resolution of these issues. The most important challenge for the United States in the 21st century, however, will be the reforming of the current world order that is a kind of a hierarchical liberal institutionalism, based on the American hegemony, experiencing a legitimacy crisis in today’s world. In this way America will, for the third time in its existence, continue to lead in the formation of an international order that will be an open, rule-based, evolutional form of the liberal institutionalism, where the newly emerging powers will manage to pursue their vital interests and this fact, together with American leadership will be the guarantor for the stability of the new international order. Keywords: Obama foreign policy doctrine, liberal institutionalism, evolution of liberal institutionalism, multipolar world, America in multipolar world, American hegemony

43-49

Authors: Ketevan CHAKHAVA

Abstract This article describes the political activities and political situation of Georgia after the collapse of Soviet Union; the article analyses the following issues: Why Georgia is willing to join European Union; why this prominent organization attracts the attention of most developed countries. The article researches the mutual interests of EU and Georgia. It emphasizes the importance of political reforms and goals that the new government of Georgia carried out after the “Rose Revolution” and how EU supported the new reforms in the country; The article displays European Union’s political position and support of Georgia during 2008 August war; it analyses the reasons of different reactions and political viewpoints by the countries of EU related to the War. The article, also, examines the main points and principles of “Maastricht Treaty”, “Lisbon Treaty” “Copenhagen Criteria”. Obviously, almost every European country is willing to become the part of Union. The special requirements are offered by EU to the candidate countries to be satisfied. Here are discussed main criteria of joining European Union, how Georgia satisfies these criteria and whether Georgia is near to the EU integration or the goal of joining EU is still quite far away. Keywords: Europeaness, Copenhagen criteria, acquis communautaire

51-55

Authors: Tamta TSKITISHVILI

Abstract Ethnic conflicts arte one of the main hampering factors of the state’s security and development. Despite the fact that in this global world a lot is done for eradication of conflicts, in many parts of the world they still are a big threats periling global security. Conflict discussed in the article below was the first ethnic conflict of the USSR, which continued after its collapse and still takes place between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the territory of Nagorny-Karabakh. Conflict hampers the security of the whole South Caucasus region and strongly hinders regions development. Nagorny-Karabakh conflict that is one of the bloodiest disputes in South Caucasus was the beginning of the ethnic tensions in the Soviet Empire and together with many other reasons eventually lead to its collapse. Keywords: Conflict, Nagorny Karabakh, South Caucasus

67-74

Authors: Zurab CHECHELASHVILI

Abstract In this paper we have examined the main legal issues regarding the acquiring and loss of the ownership on movable and immovable things according to the Georgian law. 1st part of the paper is dedicated to the procedures of acquiring and loss of the ownership on immovable things. In particular, according to the Article 183 of the Civil Code of Georgia, in order to acquire the ownership on the immovables the existence of two elements is required: 1) the written agreement between the parties and 2) registration of the acquirer as an owner in the Public Registry. For the abandonment of the ownership on the immovables a declaration of the owner on the abandonment of the ownership and registration thereof in the Public Registry are required. The 2nd part of the paper is dedicated to the procedures of acquiring and loss of the ownership on movable things. In particular, acquire of the ownership on movables is possible by several ways, which are the cases of acquisitions on the basis of a transaction, law and an act of the administrative body. Loss of the ownership on movables takes place on the basis of a transaction, by abandonment of ownership and destruction. Keywords: real agreement, declaration of intention, expectant right, causa, specificity principle, constitutum possessorium, traditio brevi manu, reservation of title, appropriation

79-83

Authors: Eka DEVIDZE

Abstract The article represented covers the information about the protected areas in Imereti region. In 1996, Georgian Parliament recognized the importance of the natural and cultural areas in Georgia by passing the law about the system of protected areas. The mentioned law created a legal basis for the establishment of protected areas - with the objective to protect outstanding natural areas and valuable cultural heritage. According to the law, the following categories were established and operated: strict nature reserve, national park, natural monument, managed nature reserve, protected landscape and multiple use area. Except the categories of the protected areas listed in the law, Imereti region possesses other rich tourism potential resources which are not investigated. It would be advisable to popularize those protected areas, to provide population with more information about truly unique nature, which will foster the development of tourism that will have positive impact on both country and region’s economic growth. Keywords: managed nature reserves, nature conservancy, protected areas, sustainable development of tourism