Mira Sovakar has been working on conflict issues and civic participation in the South Caucasus for nearly a decade. She is Caucasus Projects Manager at Conciliation Resources.
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What role can young people play in shaping political culture and addressing social problems? Twenty young politicians and civic activists from the South Caucasus recently travelled to Edinburgh and then London with the aim of exploring answers to this question.
Why are we doing this?
It takes a lot to bring groups from the South Caucasus together for dialogue activities in the UK – a lot of time, money and nerves. To pull off this recent study visit involved resolving numerous logistical setbacks and navigating complex politics, which cost some of us quite literally a number of sleepless nights.
So. If organising events such as this is so challenging, why are we doing it? Because such events are vital elements of a complex process of learning and engagement that brings about the changes needed to move things forward in the broader peace process.
Most importantly we all agreed that we want to live in peace.
Youth participant
Young Georgians and Abkhaz grow up in isolation from one another. Apart from local populations that live in the areas around the boundary, there is not much movement across the Ingur/i river that divides the two communities. What they know about each other is largely based on limited information sources that are usually not impartial.
In Abkhazia, many don’t care, with a common attitude being that since the Russian Federation recognised Abkhazia as an independent state in 2008, the conflict is resolved. Many Georgians, on the other hand, believe it’s all about Russia, and, when it comes down to it, there are no problems between Georgians and Abkhaz.
However, all – in one way or other – are negatively affected by the current status quo.
Meanwhile the societies are developing at their own pace, and the trend toward polarisation, tension and entrenchment of positions remains a serious obstacle to (re-)establishing relations across the divide.
There is no space to hear, let alone discuss, respective hopes and fears and visions for the future.
Change is tangible
Conciliation Resources started working with young adults in the South Caucasus over ten years ago, supporting established local organisations to provide training in conflict transformation, multiculturalism and civic activism, and to facilitate discussion clubs in Tbilisi, Sukhum/i and elsewhere in the region.
Since 2007 we have been bringing young Georgian and Abkhaz adults together in locations in Western Europe for dialogue and joint learning. This work has evolved over time, and is now increasingly driven by young people themselves, who have assumed responsibility for the process, and are setting their own agendas.
At the same time, young Azeris and Karabakh Armenians have, since 2006, been actively involved in a unique bridge-building project called Dialogue Through Film.
First of all we need to build up mutual trust. Yes, this is difficult, but it is essential. I think we need many more such meetings, at which we can hear each other out and explore common issues.
Youth participant
Participants from across the region have understood that genuine dialogue is not about convincing people they are wrong or don’t have the right to their position. It’s about understanding where these positions are coming from, what hopes and fears lie behind them.
Many recognise that by listening to each other they can actually find common ground on tangible issues that are really important, and which can be moved forward through constructive engagement and action.
In 2009 Georgian dialogue participants created a ‘youth initiative group’. Through this they started proactively engaging with students and youth groups in Tbilisi and different regions of Georgia to share their experience from the Georgian–Abkhaz dialogue process and foster ‘internal dialogue’ on conflict and peacebuilding.
Appetite among young people for engagement in dialogue is tangible, and with each selection process applications from all sides are increasing in number and diversity.
Learning from Scotland?
I think it’s vitally important to motivate and empower more young people to become active so that we can pursue policies effectively by working together. Youth in Scotland have shown how this is possible.
Youth participant
All 20 participants in the recent study visit to Edinburgh and London expressed a desire to improve relationships and interaction across the conflict divides in the South Caucasus.
Whilst opinions diverge as to how that may be possible and what this may look like in concrete terms, examples of coordinated youth action in Scotland demonstrate that people with opposing political positions and very diverse backgrounds can successfully work together on specific issues and bring about positive change.
Study visit elements included sessions with Scottish youth wings of different political parties, the National Union of Students Scotland and the Scottish Youth Parliament, as well as a visit to the Scottish Parliament.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2707","attributes":{"height":475,"width":1400,"class":"media-image media-element file-media-large"},"link_text":null}]]
Young people from the Caucasus pictured in discussion with local students while in ScotlandMembers of the youth wings of six Georgian political parties who were part of the group felt that the experience and contacts made in Scotland will help them in drawing up more effective approaches to address Georgia’s internal and external conflicts.
The session with youth divisions of political parties helped me understand the different viewpoints and positions of the parties. It was impressive to see how they were able to openly discuss very emotional and highly political issues in a very pragmatic and balanced way, even though their opinions were often opposed.
Youth participant
What really struck participants throughout the trip was the pragmatic approach that pervaded discussions in Scotland on matters of public concern. The Caucasian group feel that their societies could really learn from the political culture they encountered during their trip, which they saw reflected both within institutions and governance structures, and in how actors relate to each other.
It was really amazing to see how transparent the work of the Scottish Parliament is. Anyone can attend the sessions, which is definitely not the case back home!
Youth participant
It is important to recognise that there is a very different environment in the societies in the South Caucasus from that in Scotland when it comes to dealing with opposing views, considering compromise and allowing different perspectives on national identities. However, a lot of these themes are very relevant to the realities participants are grappling with in their own context, and they discussed intentions to apply lessons and ideas on their return.
I guess one of the key messages in all of this is that, in order to move things forward on the ground in a direction that can lead to sustainable peace, people have to engage with one another and take each other’s concerns seriously, regardless of whether they agree with them.
While this type of genuine engagement is a long and arduous process that can be frustrating and sometimes painful, there are also heartening and inspiring moments that more than make up for all those sleepless nights.
Even though we understand that in our context a solution is not possible at the moment, we could see how important it is to develop a culture within our societies that one day enables us to deal with our problems in a democratic and civilised way.
Youth participant