NEW BOOK: Cultural Archetypes and Political Change in the Caucasus. By Sergey Arutiunov (Author) & Nino Tsitsishvili (amazon.com)

Hardcover
Publisher: Nova Science Publishers (November 30, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1607417391
ISBN-13: 978-1607417392

For the people of the Caucasus history and ancestral heritage signals something that must be taken into account and set as an example for present actions. Today the Caucasus is a region where ancient pre-Christian and pre-Islamic rites of sun-worship, fertility, animal sacrifice, traditional moral views and cultural nationalism co-exist with international programs of human rights and equity, democratic political and governance structures, international jazz festivals and youth culture. The book interrogates the Caucasus through the prism of two interrelated categories of discourse, namely 'cultural archetypes' and 'political change'. Cultural archetypes reflect the persisting significance of historical memory and association with the past in customs, rituals, religion, inherited social values, everyday activities and artistic expressions. Political change is about globalisation, transnationalism and the turbulent political transition from closed, isolated and economically disadvantaged nations to open, pluralistic and democratic societies with more economic potential based on market economies that the Caucasian nations are currently experiencing. The book searches for crossroads between the two - how political changes can be based on existing cultural values and how cultures can serve as political discourse. Since recent political changes and future of the Caucasus are related to the establishment and possibility of building Western-style liberal democracy, many scholars and politicians contemplate whether it is feasible to build Western-style democracy while simultaneously preserving local social values. Will these nations go through the same way to democracy as did the West, or will they hold on to their unique physiognomy? Can traditional expressive cultures in the Caucasus preserve unique identity while political and social values will keep changing? The book does not provide a decisive answer, but by interrogating such persisting dichotomies as 'progressive' and 'static', 'pragmatic' and 'non-pragmatic', 'individualistic' and 'collectivist' societies, it certainly furthers our understanding of the relationship between the political and cultural realms of the Caucasus nations in comparison with those of the West.

AmazonShop: Books, Maps, Videos, Music & Gifts About The Caucasus

BLOGGER: Onnik Krikorian is one of the best blogger from the caucasian area

Now I will give my readers some posts of Onnik Krikorian - one of the best bloggers from the Caucasus. He is writing and taking photos for different medias. for the Global Voices Online » Azerbaijan & he has got also his own blog: http://oneworld.blogsome.com


Caucasus: Polarized Politics von Global Voices Online » Azerbaijan von Onnik Krikorian
This being the year of elections in the South Caucasus, Marilisa Lorusso's Blog says that reasoned political debate has given way to aggression and a polarized environment that will be difficult to reconcile later. The post also rounds up the latest election-related news from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Azerbaijan: Children's Show von Global Voices Online » Azerbaijan von Onnik Krikorian
An American in Azerbaijan says that he is becoming increasingly frustrated by working with a local television station on a show for children. Exasperated by a tight deadline, the blogger says that his work is frustrated by a “lack of vision” from ANS TV.

Azerbaijan: Ethnic Novelist von Global Voices Online » Azerbaijan von Onnik Krikorian
Window on Eurasia says that a book by ethnic Azerbaijani author Eduard Bagirov is causing a stir as a best seller throughout the Russian Federation. In particular, notes the blog, Bagirov's books generally examines the “extraordinary difficulties Azerbaijanis and other non-Russians living in the Russian capital now face in trying to cope with the rising level of xenophobic attitudes among Russians.”

Azerbaijan: Fashion Trends von Global Voices Online » Azerbaijan von Onnik Krikorian
Leigh’s new adventure in Azerbaijan takes a look at trends in fashion in the former Soviet republic. In particular, the blog notes, women are significantly more stylish and less conservative than men.

Caucasus: High Speed Internet von Global Voices Online » Azerbaijan von Onnik Krikorian
Social Science in the Caucasus says that 3 percent of Georgians have Internet access at home, but that it's quality leaves something to be desired. While Azerbaijan has the fastest download speed in the region, the Caucasus still lags behind the developed world.

Azerbaijan: Living is Easy? von Global Voices Online » Azerbaijan von Onnik Krikorian
Carolyn & Jesse's Azerbaijan Peace Corps Blog says that life in Azerbaijan during the winter isn't so easy, but it is interesting. The two PCVs describe living through the cold season in the land of fire.

Azerbaijan: Analyzing Black January von Global Voices Online » Azerbaijan von Onnik Krikorian
Asking Tough Questions in Tough Places analyzes another blog post on the 18th anniversary of Black January in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan: The Day the Soviet Union Died von Global Voices Online » Azerbaijan von Onnik Krikorian
Window on Eurasia remembers the events and circumstances surrounding Black Friday, 20 January 1990, when Soviet troops went on the rampage in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku. The blog says the event marked the end of the former Soviet Union.

Azerbaijan: Funeral Rites von Global Voices Online » Azerbaijan von Onnik Krikorian
Leigh’s new adventure in Azerbaijan reflects on the funeral rites and customs practiced in the country.

Armenia: Azerbaijani Response von Global Voices Online » Azerbaijan von Onnik Krikorian
Blogian says that the Azerbaijani media as well as parliamentarians have responded to the blogger establishing a website and blog detailing the destruction of an ancient Armenian cemetery in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan.

Armenia: Ethnic Hatred von Global Voices Online » Azerbaijan von Onnik Krikorian
The Armenian Observer posts a digest of translated excerpts from blog posts examining ethnic hatred between Armenians, Azerbaijanis and Turks.

Azerbaijan: Economic Illumination von Global Voices Online » Azerbaijan von Onnik Krikorian
Window on Eurasia ponders whether studying images of former Soviet republics at night can't provide an insight into their economic well-being. If it can, the blog says, economic growth in Azerbaijan far outstrips that in neighboring Armenia and Georgia.

Armenia: Another Blogger Outraged at Azerbaijan Event von Global Voices Online » Azerbaijan von Onnik Krikorian
Blogian weighs into the controversy that surrounded the opening of a Days of Azerbaijan funded by the British Embassy in Yerevan earlier this week. Supporting the action of those bloggers who protested the event in person, Simon says that such an event is unthinkable on the second anniversary of the destruction of Armenian khachkars (stone crosses) in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan.

Azerbaijan: Schools von Global Voices Online » Azerbaijan von Onnik Krikorian
Social Science in the Caucasus looks at a recent international study of schools in Azerbaijan and says that the results are concerning.

Azerbaijan: Sheki von Global Voices Online » Azerbaijan von Onnik Krikorian
Carolyn & Jesse's Azerbaijan Peace Corps Blog posts photographs and an account of a visit to the Azerbaijani mountain town of Sheki.