doi.org/10.52340/eab.2024.16.04.12

The article discusses the formation and development of sociology as a science studying society in Georgia. The contribution of Georgian scientists and public figures is shown. It is noted that Ivane Javakhishvili stands at the head of the University School of Sociology in Georgia, and Acad. Paata Gugushvili is one of the founders of the Academic School of Sociology.
Sociology has been developing in Georgia since the beginning of the XX century, but the annexing of Georgia by Russia seriously impeded the development of sociology;
Formation and development of sociology in Georgia: On 21st of July, 1902, a weekly newspaper “Kvali” printed in Tbilisi, informed Georgian society about founding a new science – sociology by a French positivist philosopher Comte (Kvali, 1902). It was how Georgian society learnt about sociology.
From the aspect of the development of sociology, activities by a great Georgian writer Grigol Robakidze are worth noting; in 1902 he published 5 articles titled “Letters in Sociology” in “Kvali”. His reaction to “Sociology of Fashion” by Georg Simmel was original (Kodua, 1999).
From the aspect of the history of empirical sociology, one of the early sociological researches conducted by P. Mchedlishvili who used the method of participant observation deserves attention. In 1903 he published a work “London Tramps” based on this research (Mtchedlishvili, 1903).
From the very beginning, sociology in Georgia developed in two - academic and university directions.
The first course in sociology at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University was scheduled at the social-economic faculty in 1923, lectures were delivered by Prof. Al. Vacheishvili. The same year he published a textbook “Introduction to Sociology” (Gugushvili, 1966). It was the first introductory textbook in sociology. At the same period Irodion Surguladze, a graduate from Yuriev (Tartu) University was invited to the University as a lecturer, and in 1926 Giorgi Naneishvili who had by then returned from Europe, joined the University. All three they made serious contributions to research of sociological problems at the university school of sociology.
One of the important directions of sociological thought in Georgia was the theoretical study of social structure. At the beginning of the XX century, two directions were formed in this sphere.
The first gave priority to national elements of social structure and considered nation and nationality as the main sociological categories. Due to his influence, nation became a starting principle in sociological works of such Georgian thinkers of the first half of the XX century as M.Tsereteli, A.Jorjadze, D.Uznadze, S.Danelia etc.
M.Tsereteli’s work “Nation and Mankind” published under his penname “Batoni” is rather important for Georgian sociological thought (Tsereteli, 1990). this is the first systematic work in the history of Georgian sociology.
The development of sociological thought is unimaginable without D.Uznadze’s and Professor S.Danelia’s contribution. Like M.Tsereteli and A.Jorjadze, for S.Danelia the foundation principle was national identity, and it is not surprising that he was interested tendencies the nation development (Kartozia, 1986).
Since the early 20s of the XX century after establishing the Soviet regime in Georgia a monistic -Marxist tendency dominated the sphere of intellectual activity, Therefore many important figures had to start philosophical and literary or resort to other spheres of activity. It was the way that Sh. Nutsubidze, S. Danelia, D. Uznadze and others chose.
Work on sociological problems at Tbilisi State University lasted till the end of the 20s of the XX century. From the aspect of the development of sociology in Georgia, critical consideration of one of the main movements in the western sociology – organicistic sociology by K. Gordeladze (he was sentenced to death being accused of anti-Soviet activities) is rather important. This movement is critically analysed in his book “Organicistic Movement in Sociology” (Gordeladze, 1985). In the epoch of dogmatism and Marxism, sociology sciences were repressed. at 1931Tbilisi State University sociology was removed from the list of educational disciplines. That’s why since works on sociological problems were not published either in Georgia or Russia. There used to be exceptions a work by K.Megrelidze “Problems of Sociology of Thinking” (Megrelidze, 1990), but the book was banned. Despite this, we should say that an outstanding Georgian scientist K. Megrelidze is the founder of the sociology of thinking and consciousness in Georgia.
In 1957 a discussion on historical materialism, sociology and empirical sociological research started in the USSR,
The discussion opened possibilities of forming sociology as an independent science. A sociological research laboratory headed by V. Qvachakhia was established at Tbilisi State University a sector for sociological research headed Al. Vacheishvili, olso forming at Institute of Philosophy and at the Academy of Sciences of Georgia.
A new turn to sociology in Georgia began during the in 1962. For the first time in Tbilisi was established laboratory of applied sociology and in 1968 based on it a chair of specific-sociological research was founded under the guidance of V.Kvachakhia, who is considered one of the founders of sociology. Later, centers of sociological research were established in the Academy of Sciences of Georgia, the Institute of History, the Institute of Economics, etc.
Various international, all-union and republic symposia and scientific conferences were held in Georgia on V. Qvachakhia’s initiative. Due to his endeavours lecture courses in sociology were prepared, and dissertations were defended (Ketsbaia, 2016).
In 1968 the laboratory of sociological research at the university was transformed into a chair of sociology (head V. Qvachakhia). The chair published several collections of articles on the actual problems of sociology, P.Gugushvili’s, V.Qvachakhia’s, O.Jioev’s, B.Lutidze’s, E.Kodua’s, G.Asatiani’s, A.Kacitadze’s, A.Gabiani’s, G.Logua’s, M.Beqaia/s, G.Tsuladze’s and others’ monographs and studies in sociology were published.
In 1982 the chair was headed by E.Kodua. On his initiative, in 1989 at the faculty of philosophy of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, sociology was introduced as a sector, which later transformed into a department of sociology, and the faculty – into the faculty of philosophy and sociology.
The contribution made by Prof. E.Kodua to the development of sociology in Georgia is really great. Prof. E.Kodua took sociology as a science up to new heights.
After the university reorganization, the faculty of sociology was transformed into a direction of sociology and now it is a part of the faculty of social and political sciences. Later, on the initiative of Prof. I.Kachkachishvili social work was added to the sociological speciality at TSU and now it is presented as the direction of sociology and social work.
One of the founders of the academic school of sociology in Georgia is academician P.Gugushvili. His ideas on the subject of sociology, the specificity of sociological knowledge and the necessity of sociology are still actual (Berdzenishvili, Ketsbaia, 2021). He gives a positive evaluation to the role of sociology in solving certain pressing social problems (e.g. family and marriage, etc.). Academician P. Gugushvili for years had been a member of the executive committee of the World Congress of Sociologists.
The merit of the academic school of sociology which was earlier represented by the Institute of Demography and Sociology of the Academy of Sciences of Georgia is substantial. The institute established a rich tradition of sociological research.
At the new stage in the development of sociology science emancipated from the false Soviet ideology and began to freely develop. Society realised necessity of sociology, though the culture of sociological knowledge has not yet reached the desirable level.
In present-day Georgia sociology is acquiring its originality. These are the historical and intellectual surroundings in which sociology has to form and develop in Georgia.
There is still much to be done from the aspect of institutionalisation and popularization of sociology in our country. The success of this branch of science greatly depends on the “openness” and democratization of society, high levels of sociological knowledge and culture, etc.

References:
• Kvali (1902). Kvali, kovelkvireuli gazeti. [A Weekly Newspaper, #30, Sunday, July 21.] in Georgian.
• Danelia S. (1927). Vaja-fchavela da qartveli eri. [Vazha-Pshavela and the Georgian Nation.] (in Georgian).
• Kodua E. (1999). Grigol Robaqidzis sociologiuri naazrevi. [Grigol Robakidze’s Sociological Ideas, Tbilisi.] in Georgian.
• Mtchedlishvili P. (1903). londonis mawanwalebi [London Tramps. Tfilisi.] in Georgian.
• Gugushvili P. (1966). tanamedrove burjuaziuli sociologiis shesaxeb. [On Modern Bourgeois Sociology, Tbilisi, p. 121.] in Georgian.
• Tsereteli M. (1990). eri da kacobrioba [“Nation and Mankind” (Sociological Analysis), TSU.] in Georgian.
• Jorjadze A. (2010). werilebi. [Letters. Tbilisi.] in Georgian.
• Kartozia B. (1986). narkvevebi qartuli sociologiuri azris istoriidan [Essays on History of Georgian Sociological Thought (10-30-ies of XXc.). Tbilisi, Ch. III. Sergi Danelia. P. 91-159.] in Georgian.
• Gordeladze K. (1985) organicistuli mimartuleba sociologiashi. [Organicistic Movement in Sociology. TSU.] in Georgian.
• Megrelidze K. (1990), azris socialuri fenomenologia. [Social Phenomenology of Thiking. Tbilisi.] in Georgian.
• Ketsbaia K. (2016). Sociologia saqartveloshi [Sociologi in Georgia, in “Sociology for Everybody”. Tbilisi.] in Georgian.
• Berdzenishvili A., Ketsbaia K. (2021). sociologiis sagnis shesaxeb Paata Gugushvilis mier dasavluri sociologiis kritikuli analizis mixedvit. [On the Subject of Sociology According to the Critical Analysis of the Western Sociology by Paata Gugushvili. TSU journal “Economics and Business” # 3, p. 212-223.] in Georgian.

Keywords: Sociology, sociology in Georgia, Georgian sociologists, founders of sociology in Georgia, sociology in modern Georgia.
JEL Codes: A14, Z10, Z13