CC BY
15THE TRADITIONS ORIENTATED ON EUROPEAN VALUES
IN GEORGIA
Veshapidze Sh.
Doctor of Economics, Professor Georgian Technical University, Ministry of Defence of Georgia lepl David Agmashenebeli National Defence Academy of Georgia,
Professor,
Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University
ABSTRACT
The paper deals with Ilia's concept and shows what practical results can bring it's implementation. Ilia has systematically set his vision as to why European values are so important for us, which values should we have been aspiring and how can we implement them in Georgia, how can we find the ways to adjust European standards to our life features, that will help us improve each person's life and will provide with the protection of national identity. Considering that Georgia has been successfully implementing the policy of mutual beneficial cooperation with the EU, the study of Ilia's opinions is the most interesting and relevant.
Ilia formed the main basic values of Georgian variety of economic liberalism, the foremost of which is the ability to create the opportunities for free economic development. He justified reasonably the importance of free trading, the open economy,the governmental liberal interference and liberal taxes. He considered on the necessary involvement in the world economic integration processes.
In order to ensure the country's economic promotion, he considered on enlarging labour productivity and reasonable deepening of specialization, also the creation of competitive environment, to find the necessary investments, to overcome monopolies. He thought that the common economic prosperity was prevented significantly by the private property insecurity, by bureaucracy, the corruption, the lack of economic reform and the institutionalization, the lack of professionalism, the lining of local peculiarities.
Even a century and a half ago Ilia Chavchavadze realized the Georgian and European spiritual relations and the goods that our country could get by sharing leading European values. Ilia thought that these values were parochial and were acceptable for everyone, as it allowed us to make the progress unrecoverable. By Ilia's opinion the implementation of European values will protect the rights of every person and of the nation in whole, democracy, freedom of speech, the minorities, the law rule, life, liberty, property, equality, harmony and understanding, also can be a means to increase the welfare. Their implementations will require different approaches in different countries.
Keywords: welfare, economic integration, European values, local peculiarities.
Georgian orientation policy towards European values has a long tradition. This economic thinking vector had been developing and deepening consistently during the reign of Ayet, Pharnavaz, Vakhtang Gorgasali, David, Tamar, Giorgi Splendid, Vakhtng VI, Erekle II and the others. In this case Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, Solomon Dodashvili, Dimitri Kipiani, Ilia Chavchavadze, Niko Nikoladze and others made a great contribution.
In this article we would like to refer Ilia's concept oriented on European values.In this concept in order to protect the national identity, the importance of orientation of European values is systematically reflected. Historically the direct result of such progressive aspirations should consider the fact that Georgia received vizaliberization on February 2, 2017. Citizens of Georgia obtained the right to replace without a visa.
Ilia Chavchavadze was born in the countryside-Kvareli. Georgian people call it own "Bethlehem". In 2017 is the 180th anniversary of his birth and the 110th anniversary of his death.
In the encyclopedia "Tbilisi" is noted that Ilia Chavchavadze (1837-1907), was a writer, national and public figure, a lawyer by profession and an econo-
mist. In 1863 he married with Saguramo's Prince Thaddeus Guramishvili's modest daughter -Olga. In 1864-73 first he worked as specific officer of powers of attorney, then in connection with the implementation of Georgian peasent reform, he worked as a conciliation mediator in East Georgia. In 1868-73 years he worked as conciliation judge in mazra Dusheti. In 1875 he was elected as a achairman of the Royal Household Bank, he headed it invariably until 1905. From 1881 he was chairman of Georgian Dramatic Society,which was founded by his initiative, 1879 -85 - was the deputy chairman of the Literacy-spreading society among Georgians and from 1885 to his death -he was the permanent chairman of this society (under the will he gifted his whole movable and immovable property to this society). In 1863 he founded the magazine "The Messenger", despite the hardest censorship, afterwards this magazine became inspirer of the national liberation movement. From 1877 he edited periodical publication - "Iveria", which was founded by himself and led national, spiritual and intellectual life of Georgia over three decades. In 1906 he was elected as a member of state board. He declared: "I shal not conceal and I'll say: I shall be the
defender of whole Georgia and Georgian people in this state board".
Ilia Chavchavadze was the grandmaster of artistic word, poet, novelist, playwright, translator, reformer of literary language and legislator, a wide range researcher. His practical activity reached all the main parts of public and cultural lifetime and had the most decisive role in their successes. He wrote stories, belletristic articles, letters of literary criticism,, history, national economy, the issues of national economy, banking and finance and others.All of his compositions were published in Tbilisi.
Studio "Georgian Movie" produced the films according to his novels. He was buried in the Mtatsmin-da Pantheon. In 1913 the monument "Sorrowful Georgea" (sculptor I. Nicoladze) was erected in his grave. There is Ilia Chavchavadze's Square in Tbilisi. In 1987 he was canonized by Georgian church. The total number of Ilia's Literary and journalistic works are 20 books. In the first five books there are given lyrics, poems, short stories and other literary texts.
The next 15 books are related to Ilia's publicist letters and researches. The empirical researches shows us that Ilia Chavchavadze is the most popular and cited name in Georgia. Till today more than two dozen major publications have written about him. For better understanding of the scale of Ilia's creativity, we need to get introduced to his general conception. These are the main guidelines set for Georgian society in order to achieve the universal walfare for each human's life. The mentioned aspirations must be based on morality, faith, love, patriotism, justice, equality, peace, protection of human rights, economic prosperity, implementation of permanent reforms, establishment of true professionalism in any case, taking into consideration the advanced experiences of others in order to gain the success.
Ilia Chavchavadze learned the life of the nation in whole and revealed its identity. Ilia substantiated that the national identity was determined by the values underpinned by the nation's distinctive traditions, culture, language, love of homeland, religion.
Whole period of Ilia's activety was accompanied by the process of globalization. Georgia was facing lots of problems as well as the modern globalized world. The majority of the population was illiterate of literacy, there was the low economic prosperity, the economic environment was limited, monopolized, agriculture and Industry were backward. No adequate reform were implemented,nor the necessary investments were in sight.
The nation's identity was marred, its identity was threatening the danger, Georgia was becoming the part of Russia Empire. Ilia concluded that it could not go on living like this. An action was needed.According to Ilia's general conception the main subject (main direction) of our struggle (of activity) was "the restoration of fallen identity, the recovering and the protection of every potential danger ". [1, 467].
Ilia Chavchavadze quoted the experience of European countries, for example, how Czechs made up their identity, restored and preserved their
traditions and values, made progress. Ilia also determined such ways for Georgia.
Ilia's libertarian economic philosophy was serving to the material interests of the nation. Ilia substantiated with arguments that for further economic development of Georgia the most important was free trading, open economy, the liberal intervation of government, liberal tax significance.Like free trade supporters, "free traiders", he also considered that it was the way and the means of achieving "economic happiness"..
For this purpose he was taking into consideration the local pecularities at the process of implementation of the experiences of other countries'. He thought it was the most important to consider William Petty's, Adam Smith's, Ricardo's, Sismondi's, J. Stuart Mill's, Gustav Shmoler's, kobden's, Brighton's, Robert Peel's, Bastiat's, Garnier's, Chevalier's, Pazhe's, Mordvinov's and other well-known scientist-economist's theoretical approaches. Ilia evaluated everything according to local peculiarities, environmental conditions and the peculiarities which were identified by the time.
The ideology of Georgian variety of Ilia's liberalism is based on these priorities, his doctrine. This is a view of establishing the advanced experiences of Europe and others, so that we would not lose our traditions, manners, habits and in addition, take into account the others' best practices, that is the way to achieve optimal synthesis.
Ilia Chavchavadze actively studied all aspects of life, was creating a true worldview, was forming, was directly involved and incited in the creation and management of public institutions, contributed each human opinion in order to reach goals of public welfare.
Ilya established true values in Georgian society. It was he who formed the basics of main values of economic liberalism, of which the first was the creation of opportunities for the further development of free economy. Based on the discussion of Mesiner's project, Ilia substantiated with arguments that the most important was to create competitive environment, to search necessary investments." The creation of monopolies hinders the process. [2]. The total economical prosperity is significantly impeded by insecurity of private property, bureaucracy, corruption, insufficient economic reforming, the lack of professionalism, the lining of the local peculiarities." [12, 13, 14, 15].
Ilia Chavchavadze believed that the country should use its absolute and rational advantages of its economy, in such way, that would not threaten the economic sustainability and would make easy and cheap to obtain the necessary resources for people's living.
It is important to reveal fully and use the economic potention of the country with the maximum benefit.
Ilia reasonably examined "Customs policy 06 Europe, free trading and protectin. He argued that at the conditions of the liberal market economy, the finding of absolute superiority is the most important strategic task".[3]
Ilia Chavchavadze systematically developed the ways of success of economic activities in Georgia. He considered them in the world context. Ilia indicated that in order to strengthen agriculture and factory manufacture, we needed to accumulate he necessary knowledge and experience". It was necessary not to let anybody to outstrip us and we were to take our signs ourselves. This was the most important. In XVII-XVIII centuries and till XIX 60-ies this area was very limited and Georgian people were developing only mini industry. It was necessary to be actively involved in the international division of labor. Such was the requirement of the century. [4, 40].
For economic promotion of the country Ilia considered expediently on increasing of the labor productivity and deepening reasonably agricultural specialization. He thought that it was necessary to start the development of the real economy, to get every benefit which was giving us our country. This was the only way we could achieve and realize our competitive advantages.
Thus we can learn how to benefit much more from the ground in the conditions of one and the same labor and expense, can learn how to get more benefit from harvest and use all the opportunities which are generously given by the climate and soil of our Country, which always has a buyer both here and abroad. Ilia considered on the fact that by using of law requirements of unity of absolute and comparative advantages, it would be possible to achieve the sustainable development of the country.
This will give us ability to produce all kinds of goods, which is available for the country and can achieve sustainable development of the country, maintain it's "self-existance" and also be involved most effectively in the international division of labor.
Ilia substantiated that according to the potential of the country,was possible and reasonable to give priority attention to tea, sorghum, carthame, silk, cotton, all kinds of fruit trees, grape crops, wine, almost all kinds of oils, painting and creating favorable conditions for the development of pharmaceutical plants, because "the nature of our country gives us such possibilities. The importance of proper education is necessary. In the East, the development of the land gives us the chance to get more precious harvestable cite by using the same labor, hard working, the same climate and soil " [5, 64-65].
He was giving examples of experiences of Belgium, England, Germany, Holland, the US. He paid attention to commercial aspect of agricultural, to the development of searches of cheap credit, the importance of case leading with the help of condominium, the importance of the necessity of proper education, culturing of the soils of the west Georgia the irrigation of dry lands of East, the protection of harvest from damages of pests and natural disasters, the cultivation of cereals, livestock development.
Ilia Chavchavadze considered that the true benefit of the country was based on the fact that the both the first and the other countries should be well.
The country will get more benefit itself if it brings more benefit to others.
It should be noted Ilia was not considerimg on the benefit and welfare of the most developed country at that time - England - indepemdently, seperetaly, but he considered it in regional and global context. In the same way he considered Georgia. By his opinion it was linking door between Europe and Asia, according to what we are always needed to strengthen the mutual beneficial cooperation between Asia and Europe. [6, 242].
Ilia thought that the openness of the economy (open economy) was one of essential ways for Economic success, as well as the establishment of foreign economic relations with other countries. He believed thoroughly that international and domestic trade required a peaceful, cheap, quick way and thought that only cheap and high-quality goods could be the basics of any success in economy. [5, 62-63].
Ilya considered the necessity of the involment of the coutry in the world processes of economic integration. According to Ilia's conception the particular attention was to be paid on rich human, natural and mineral resources, climate, the assimilation of water resources, the development of good communication roads, efficient use of Baku-Batumi railway, the development of all modes of transport, the withdrawal of pipeline transport from Baku till Black Sea and efficient use of Caucasian oil mines, the creation of favorable conditions for wine and other agricultural products in the world market.
In December 31, 1897, Ilia Chavchavadze published a study in which he summed up the way Georgian people passed through the continual battles, wars and bloodshed during two thounads years, and expressed his hypothesis about the survival goods. Ilia explained that the nation was survived by the fact that during it's life, the true patriotism was always accompanied by true professionalism. [7]. The boon of the economic organization of old Georgia was also very important. Soil and the other resources had been dealt in such a way that one could not find a man without estate and flat in the country.
Everybody created equal conditions for agriculture and nourishment. The optimal ratio was achieved for the satisfaction of the interests of household, agricultural, private and public content. The agriculture was running so that at the process of benefit distribution which were got from the resources, the basic rights of living and human beings were strongly protected [8].
It was also very important the "peculiar institute of property" in Georgia. Ilia noted: the "peculiar institute of property" in Georgia is such kind of "land ownership, which is not private, for rent, but it is something standing in the middle, a special, sort of, kind of land ownership". [9].
In such cases, the employers could use their land in their ownership and own it forever, also they were able to gift it to their descendants, though they had no right to sell it. Such approach was very important as it could bring benefit to the country and gave ability to the people to use it's resources without any exception and fully. According to Ilia's conception the main aim
of the society was "the happiness of each person". [10, 326; 11, 373]
His conclusion was that the duty of human being was to set the rule of the continuous self-assessment as the main principle of the activity. The rule - how could we bring usefulness to each individual and the whole society - from our activety. We are needed not only for us, but for others too.
A century ago Ilia Chavchavadze had got to grips with Georgian and European spiritual affinities and the goods by using of which our nation could go on sharing of advanced European values. Ilia thought that these values were universal by their nature and were acceptable to everyone, as it allowed us to make progress irreversible.
This was not the way of unreasonable experimentations or civilized experiences, but it was the the way of using of civilized experiences, the way of learning and using of standards of "European Science" as a "measure" or "basket", which had been already tested and used elsewhere. Ilia said: "Here's the thing, and this is the way to reach the goal. Adolescent-humanity must be prepared diligently and own the faithful knowledge, as far as possible, should learn fundamentally the European science and by using of European experience, by such shotgun should start the job of our country.
We could not show better way to our reliable boy-men, than this one, which had already been experienced and examined elsewhere. We should have to face to this subject and keep this way.
Other measures are false and futile: they would be imitation of someone else's will and not on our own needs. ". [1, 468-469]. The main idea is clear, for Georgia the only way to reach the goal is not the way of imitation, but our own, based on our needs, based on the grounds of nationality. Without that, transmission of other person's experiences would be unsucess-ful.
European values expressed our quest assure of each human's prosperity. These values indicate how to find a universal "peace, prosperity, happiness, respect and the glory. " As we are, all together, and each of us separately, an integral part of the whole nation and we must seek to achieve the happiness of each person "in the prosperity of the entire nation and not seperatly" [11, 372-373]. Only thus "our lives can be one of the great stream of united forces", and thus "the unity of kindness can have useful spread for everyone".
Ilia Chavchavadze published letters in "Iveria" with such sections as "Internal review","Policy Review" and etc. He analyzed the content of values, such as freedom, women's rights, moral clarity (its importance for the future of the nation). He reviewed the goodness of the supporting societies, which were created in England. He referred to to the necessity of the establishment of the International Court of Justice, in order to strengthen the peace throughout the world. His reference about the importance of the state thinking is noteworthy for Georgia. He referendced that "French moral strength is the love of the fatherland".
Ilia focused his attention especially on the protection of justice, on the fact that "the law equality
was the basic cornerstone of the decent structure of community", that "the health of the nation is the largest task of the state", that there is a "need of such an institution, where one can have the fun conversation and relaxation" and etc.
Ilia considered that the implementation of European values was the first concern of the state for the protection of human rights of each and whole nation and rule of Law, life, liberty, property, equality, har-moni and understanding, the means of the conversion into their prosperity.He spoke about need of "Europe-nisation" (or it's orientation on Eoropean values) of Georgian writing.
It is important that Ilia Chavchavadze considered life events rationally ie the in reality. His main char-achteristic peculiarity is that he researched everything in accordance with his own country, it's location (it's geostrategic location), on the ground of environmental and historical circumstances (time circumstances). His theory of economic life is represented not as a sequence of events, but as an understanding (explanation) of a ratio. All the time Ilia had been ascertaining the search of a ratio.
Ilia explained with arguments what was the optimal, true ratio, between two major, private and public forms of property. ; Has argued that when the labor was free in time and space, that was the better ratio of these two types of property. As a criteria he considers "Universal", by its importance elevated "national fee" till its world value (important for everyone, generating the similar use).
He drew attention to the importance of the relationship between national and regional interests; He believed that all "local minor items" were to be solved by local authorities. but on the national level of the state should be considered: "the adoption of the universal laws" ie the common law-making, "the total income and expenditure," the finances of the country and "arrangement of universal army " ie the defense of the country ;
In order to develop economy of the country Ilia considered significantly the establishment of local goverment, the optimal separation between true local goverment and self-government in accordance with the "European experience". He argued free-trading (liberal, open) and importance of reasonable ratio of a protectionist foreign economic policy in order to provide "self-existence" and "self-development" of the country and many others.
Only on basis of establishing of such ratio is possible to form the true optimal economic policy, which would be acceptable for the whole society. This is an important method to define the optimal synthesis of universal and national values, This is the only way to maintain our „I", „local trifles", traditions and morals, common progress. Such approaches had applied functions in the epoch of contemporary globalization.
Ilia Chavchavadze argued that the similar solutions of similar problems could not be acceptable for all countries, moreover nor coping of the experiences of the different countries as templates could be useful for any of them. The solution of such problems are requiring the various approaches in different countries.
No doubt we should use and stay extremely motivated on the study the of local peculiarities.
In order to resolve the problems of the miserable life of the workers, Ilia suggested an important conclusion, based on examples of England,Germany and France. According to the experiences obtained by others' passed way had an invaluable importance and they (insights without distortion) should be used undoubtedly for learning of local peculiarities. Ilia considered exemplary on "European education, management and governance of the country, European rules and orders". He taught us to open the door for European civilization, as it was the most advanced and progressive. He believed that we should take into consideration the advanced experiences of all countries. His main conclusion is the following: from the advanced countries we should replicate everything, which is required for the boon and happiness of the country.
References
1. I.Chavchavadze. Home Review (Slavs' example. For what should we prepare the young man? ...) The complete works im twenty volumes.vol. VI, "by Ilia Foundation", Tb., 1997. p. 459-473.
2. I.Chavchavadze. Home Review. Mr. Meis-ner's project. The complete works im twenty volumes, Volume VII. "by Ilia Foundation", 2005. p. 26 - 79.
3. I.Chavchavadze. Customs policy in Europe, free-trading and protection. The complete works im twenty volumes, Volume IX. "by Ilia Foundation", 2006. p. 385-401.
4. I.Chavchavadze. Agricultural Union of Kakheti. The complete works in ten volumes, Volume 7, Tb., 1956. p. 36-56.
5. I. Chavchavadze. Our opinions of valuable sectors of Agriculture. The complete works in ten volumes, Volume 7, Tb., 1956. p. 61-66.
6. I.Chavchavadze. Home Review (East Case and we. We are something for somebody or....) The complete works in twenty volumes,Vol. VI, "by Ilia Foundation", Tb., 1997. p. 241-262.
7. I.Chavchavadze. What can I say? How can I make you happy? The complete works in ten volumes, Volume 5, Tb., 1955. p. 10-14.
8. I.Chavchavadze. About old Georgian Economical Pile. The complete works in ten volumes, Volume 4, Tb., 1955. p. 175-178.
9. "Iveria", 1886, 221, p. 2.
10. I. Chavchavadze. The nineteenth century The complete works in twenty volumes, Volume XIV. "by Ilia Foundation", 2007. p. 324-327.
11. Chavchavadze. The Equality of Titles, The complete works in twenty volumes, Vol X. "by Ilia Foundation", 2007. p. 371-373.
12. I. Chavchavadze. Life and Law. The complete works in ten volumes, Volume 6, Tb., 1956, p. 7-114.
13. I.Chavchavadze. Khiznebi case. The complete works in ten volumes, Volume 6, Tb., 1956. p. 115-150.
14. Chavchavadze. The ownership private and community land. The complete works in ten volumes, Volume 6, Tb., 1956. p. 151-200.
15. Chavchavadze. Drawbacks of social life and it's economic reasons. The complete works in ten volumes, Volume 6, Tb., 1956. p. 201-240.
16. Chavchavadze. Self action. The complete works in twenty volumes, Volume IX. "by the Ilia Foundation", 2006. p. 652-657.
17. I. asatiani (1994). Ilia Chavchavadze and Tbilisi Georgian Homestead Bank. Tbilisi, "Science. -385 p.
18. Sh.Veshapidze. (1999). Ilia's methodology of economic research and current issues of modern economic development. Tbilisi. - 296 p.
19. 20. G. Todua. The universal law of sustainable economy and advantageous ratio, the magazine. "Economy", 1996, # 12.
20. T.Sartania. (2007). Ilia Chavchavadze about the ways of economic development of ways. Ilya chatschavadze - 170. Publishing house "Batumi University". - P. 167-181.
21. Kistauri y. Ilia Chavchavadze-the great Georgian 'banker-financier, Tb., 1998.
22. Atanelishvili, T. (2006). Economical Reforms in the Georgian Democratic Republic(1918-1921). Tbilisi University publishing., Tbilisi.
23. Basilia,T., Silagadze,A., T Chikvaidze, T. (2001). Post-Socialistic Transformation: Georgian Economy at the Threshold of the XXI Century. "Ara-dani", Tbilisi.
24. Silagadze, A., Tvalchrelidze, A., Zubiashvili, T., Atanelishvili, T. (2016). Aspects of China's economic Development. J. Ecoforum. Vol. 5. №1, 2016, pp. 47-64.
25. Silagadze, A., Atanelishvili, T. (2010). Aspects of economic doctrines in Georgia. Peninsula University of Technology, Business and Informatics. San Francisco (USA).
26. Silagadze, A. (2010). Economic Thought in Federal Georgia. The Caucasus& Globalization. Volume 4, Issue 3- 4, pp. 57-66. CA&CC Press, Sweden.
27. Silagadze, A. (2008). Origin of Liberal Economic Doctrines. "Innovation", Tbilisi, 95 p.
28. Silagadze, A. (2006). Sources of Economic Doctrines. Publication of Tbilisi University, Tbilisi.
29. Silagadze, A. (2001). History of Economic Thought. Publication of Tbilisi University, Tbilisi, 610 p.
30. Kharitonashvili, J. (1997). Retrospective of Economic Doctrines and Modern Problems. Book 1. Tbilisi.
31. Silagadze, A. (2011). Economic Teachings, Ilya Chavchavadze and Modernity- "Actual problems of Historical and economic Teachings ". Moscow, "VZFEI", pp.71 -77.
32. Silagadze, A., Atanelishvili, T. (2010). Some questions of economic doctrines in Georgia. Moscow. Silagadze, A. (2009). Aspects of economic doctrines in feudal Georgia - Historical and economic sciences in the past and present. Moscow.
33. The Strategy of socio-economic development of Georgia. Georgia 2020, government of Georgia.
