History in danger and youth civic engagement: Perceptions and practice in telavi, Georgia

Abstract

Georgians often point to the importance of their country’s history, and the value of maintaining traditions and habits. This chapter explores how this reported importance of history is realised in practice by young people. It considers also whether the appreciation of the importance of history leads to increased civic engagement by looking at whether a perceived threat to historical sites in the town of Telavi has an impact on young people’s civic engagement. Based on MYPLACE data obtained through quantitative and qualitative research methods, the chapter concludes that the articulated importance of commemorating the past is not translated fully into practice. Even when history is perceived to be endangered, no increased civic engagement by young people is observed.