Project Title:

1. Ilia State University School of Graduate Studies PhD Student: Natalia Machabeli Project Title: From Ethnic Conflict to Ethnic Violence: Socio-psychological factors determining transformation of ethnic conflict into violence (case study - Georgia). PhD Project Duration: October 2010 - May 2011

2. Ilia State University School of Graduate Studies PhD Student: Natalia Machabeli Objective of the Project: Identify main factors determining development of the ethnic conflict into ethnic violence: • Material • Nonmaterial • Elite manipulation

3. Ilia State University School of Graduate Studies PhD Student: Natalia Machabeli Main Research Question: Which factors have been important in the Georgia –South Ossetia conflict to break out in violence?

4. Hypotheses: • Ideology and State Propaganda (raise of nationalist movement in Georgia in 1990s); •  Relative Deprivation (perceived discrepancy between value expectations and value capabilities in ethnic minorities – South Ossetians);   • Lack of Legitimacy of new Georgian government; • Lack of Strong State Institutions; • Social Practice of Memory: the past experience of Independence lived by ethnic groups during Soviet Union. Ilia State University School of Graduate Studies PhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

5. Methodology: In order to examine the main objective of the project Qualitative Research Methods will be used, such as: • Focus groups • Interviews • Participant observation Ilia State University School of Graduate Studies PhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

6. Phases of Research: • Literature Review (Desk Research); • Qualitative Research - Preliminary Stage; • Qualitative research - Central Stage; • Data Processing; • Data Analysis; • Final Analysis. Ilia State University School of Graduate Studies PhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

7. Ilia State University School of Graduate Studies PhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

8. Problems, Remaining Doubts: Economic factors in conflict transformation (Importance of analysing economic factors determining transformation of ethnic conflict into ethnic violence. How can overlook of economic factors in conflict transformation influence outcomes of the research). Ilia State University School of Graduate Studies PhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

9. Factors determining outbreak of ethnic violence: Relative deprivation • Discrepancy between value expectations and value capabilities; • Frustration/Aggression; • Ethnic exclusion. Ilia State University School of Graduate Studies PhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

10. Factors determining outbreak of ethnic violence: Ilia State University School of Graduate Studies PhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

11. Main open questions from your perspective: • Did the combination of state and ethnic interests of Georgia complicate it’s motivation in conflict with South Ossetia? • Is it possible to fully analyze the factors influencing ethnic conflict transformation into ethnic violence without focusing on economic interests of its participants? Ilia State University School of Graduate Studies PhD Student: Natalia Machabeli

12. Thank You Ilia State University School of Graduate Studies PhD Student: Natalia Machabeli