The Struggle for Georgian Identity and the Power of the "Other"
The Struggle for Georgian Identity and the Power of the "Other" The Concept of the Imagined Community When we talk about national identity, it’s more than just the passport you hold or where you pay taxes. According to Liu & Turner’s definition, national identity is a deeply internal, psychological sense of belonging that emerges from citizens’ shared connection to their country's historical and cultural traditions, moral values, ideals, beliefs, and national sovereignty (Liu & Turner, 2008). In other words, it acts as the “glue” that holds a society together, shaping how individuals see themselves and their place in the nation. This concept aligns with Benedict Anderson’s idea of “imagined communities,” where members of a nation, despite never meeting most of their fellow citizens, feel united through shared symbols, history, and values (Center of Social Science, 2019). In Georgia, national identity is an ongoing project shaped by stories that answer questi...