Generations and Values
26 May, 2013
Trust in other people is very low in Georgia; members of the younger generation are much more religious than their elders, while at the same time they are more tolerant towards non-religious minority groups. As far as self-identity is concerned, Christianity has a much higher value than citizenship. For the majority, democracy and its characteristics like protest, freedom of speech, and equality before the law, are important values, however many think that the State can violate the law to achieve an important goal. These are part of the findings of research carried out by Nana Sumbadze, Professor at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of TSU in a study entitled “Generations and Values”.
Professor Sumbadze explained, “Individual values are largely determined by time, culture and personal characteristics. It is important to study these values, as they are the driving forces of generations, the differences and similarities between generations in a particular society, and the particular historical context. Values are also important because they permit us to predict a possible trajectory of public development, and in case of Georgia – its democratic development.”
The research explored the values of different generations in Georgia, and identified challenges facing the country’s democratic development. The project was financed by the Open Society–Georgia Foundation and was carried out in 2011-2012. The study focused on the following two value measurements:
- Individualism-collectivism. An individualistic culture means there is a great number of persons in the country whose self-concept or identity is determined by stable personal characteristics and is less dependent on others, whereas for persons living in a collective culture, often their identity is largely determined by pre-determined roles and group affiliation.
- Materialism and post-materialism. Materialistic values are accompanied by the development of economy, bureaucracy and science, whereas post-materialistic values are mostly connected with democracy.
In addition, particular values were measured during the research, including religion, health, education and upbringing. Other factors were assessed that are often related to values. For example: trust in people; optimism; economic welfare; satisfaction with life; and self-esteem.
A survey made between November 21, 2011 and December 19, 2011 identified the values of people from various generations in Tbilisi and all the regions of Georgia. A total of 1058 respondents were interviewed – representatives of three generations aged 18-24, 40-50 and 60-70 years. Interviews used a questionnaire consisting of 102 questions about values, respondents’ economic status, relations, democracy, equality, religious behavior and faith, personal characteristics and conditions.
Professor Sumbadze, the author of “Generations and Values”, explains that the results of description and comparison of the values among people of three generations clearly indicate differences between generations:
Members of the younger generation (aged 18-25) have spent most of their lives in an independent Georgia, while their parents (aged 40-50) and grandparents (aged 60-70) lived their youth during the Communist period. The generation of parents and grandparents found it more difficult to adapt to new political and economic realities and their values have changed less. As the author of the research explains, the difference between generations is mostly linear, increasing or decreasing with age. Hence, extreme assessments are observed in the youngest and oldest generations, while the assessments of the middle and older generations are closer to each other than to those of the younger generation.
In terms of value measurements, the difference between generations is mostly visible at the level of individualism/collectivism, rather than in materialism or post-materialism. The study showed that youth share a collectivist orientation less than older generations and that there are more young people who share mixed and post-materialist values than older ones.
Collectivism clearly increases with age and this difference between the generations is important from a statistical point of view. Only 32.7 percents of respondents aged 18-24 years have a high level of collectivism, whereas 59.1 percent of those aged 60-70 years do (diagram p.25). Results show that the members of all three generations consider democracy and its major characteristics-- like participation in protest rallies, freedom of expression, freedom of speech, and equality before the law-- to be important values, and 71.1% of respondents consider democracy the best form of governance. At the same time 53% believe that the problems facing Georgia can be settled only through active public participation. The generations agree that people must have the possibility to express their opinions and 89.5% believe that equality before the law is an indispensable condition of democracy. Yet 48.8% think that the authorities can sometimes violate the law in order to arrest a criminal.
Unlike their elders, the youngest generation shows more tolerance towards members of other groups, such as ethnic and sexual minorities, drug-addicts, criminals, etc. Unlike older generations, many youth believe that homosexual women and men must have the right to live as they want (14.4%).
It is also interesting that young people are more tolerant towards unlawful acts than members of older generations. The only exception is abortion - only a small part of the youth justifies such a decision, which can be explained by the influence of religion on young people. In addition, beating a wife is considered most unacceptable at only 0.5% of respondents justifying it.
Religion plays a more significant role among young people than among older generations. As Nana Sumbadze supposes, the disintegration of the Soviet Union prompted a revaluation of all values and faiths. In such times it is usual to look for a strong and bona fide authority, and the church showed itself to be such an institution. Therefore, it should not be surprising that the influence of the church is stronger on this generation that experienced personal growth and formation after the Soviet epoch, explaining the higher religious values of youth compared to older generations.
Most respondents (65.9%) think that Christianity is more of a basis for self-identity than Georgian citizenship (34.1%). Religion is very important for 55.3% of young respondents, 44.8% of middle age respondents and 41.3% of older respondents. However, only 37% of respondents observe religious rituals (diagram p.54).
Nana Sumbadze explains that the effective functioning of society largely depends on mutual trust and solidarity of the members of the society. General trust in other people is considered one of the conditions of democracy and public activity. However, the research shows that trust in other people is low in Georgia. Only 20.6% of respondents think that the majority deserves their trust, while 79.4% believe that a person needs to be cautious while communicating with others. The results showed that among the most desirable human values that Georgians named, were loyalty to their friends, enjoying respect, rendering assistance to others, attachment to traditions, enjoying a good public image, modesty, etc. (diagram p.26).
Professor Sumbadze said, “We can conclude that we have to deal with the process of changing values among youth, which is expressed by the reduction of a collectivist orientation and slower growth of post-materialist values reflecting political, economic and social change. Low trust in other people indicates that the population is less ready to assume responsibility for the country’s development. As for the lack of participation in the activities of volunteer organizations, it is a serious challenge to democratic development. In addition, the existence of a high level of education in the population, globalization that increases the availability of information and influences people through social media, all these somehow manage to compensate for the effects of economic poverty and promotes the strengthening of democratic values.” In conclusion, she recommends: “To promote the country’s democratic development, it is essential to acquire the experience of participation at an early age. Schools must pursue the policy of involving school children in activities useful for society and school curricula should focus on building trust in other people.”
Professor Sumbadze explained, “Individual values are largely determined by time, culture and personal characteristics. It is important to study these values, as they are the driving forces of generations, the differences and similarities between generations in a particular society, and the particular historical context. Values are also important because they permit us to predict a possible trajectory of public development, and in case of Georgia – its democratic development.”
The research explored the values of different generations in Georgia, and identified challenges facing the country’s democratic development. The project was financed by the Open Society–Georgia Foundation and was carried out in 2011-2012. The study focused on the following two value measurements:
- Individualism-collectivism. An individualistic culture means there is a great number of persons in the country whose self-concept or identity is determined by stable personal characteristics and is less dependent on others, whereas for persons living in a collective culture, often their identity is largely determined by pre-determined roles and group affiliation.
- Materialism and post-materialism. Materialistic values are accompanied by the development of economy, bureaucracy and science, whereas post-materialistic values are mostly connected with democracy.
In addition, particular values were measured during the research, including religion, health, education and upbringing. Other factors were assessed that are often related to values. For example: trust in people; optimism; economic welfare; satisfaction with life; and self-esteem.
A survey made between November 21, 2011 and December 19, 2011 identified the values of people from various generations in Tbilisi and all the regions of Georgia. A total of 1058 respondents were interviewed – representatives of three generations aged 18-24, 40-50 and 60-70 years. Interviews used a questionnaire consisting of 102 questions about values, respondents’ economic status, relations, democracy, equality, religious behavior and faith, personal characteristics and conditions.
Professor Sumbadze, the author of “Generations and Values”, explains that the results of description and comparison of the values among people of three generations clearly indicate differences between generations:
Members of the younger generation (aged 18-25) have spent most of their lives in an independent Georgia, while their parents (aged 40-50) and grandparents (aged 60-70) lived their youth during the Communist period. The generation of parents and grandparents found it more difficult to adapt to new political and economic realities and their values have changed less. As the author of the research explains, the difference between generations is mostly linear, increasing or decreasing with age. Hence, extreme assessments are observed in the youngest and oldest generations, while the assessments of the middle and older generations are closer to each other than to those of the younger generation.
In terms of value measurements, the difference between generations is mostly visible at the level of individualism/collectivism, rather than in materialism or post-materialism. The study showed that youth share a collectivist orientation less than older generations and that there are more young people who share mixed and post-materialist values than older ones.
Collectivism clearly increases with age and this difference between the generations is important from a statistical point of view. Only 32.7 percents of respondents aged 18-24 years have a high level of collectivism, whereas 59.1 percent of those aged 60-70 years do (diagram p.25). Results show that the members of all three generations consider democracy and its major characteristics-- like participation in protest rallies, freedom of expression, freedom of speech, and equality before the law-- to be important values, and 71.1% of respondents consider democracy the best form of governance. At the same time 53% believe that the problems facing Georgia can be settled only through active public participation. The generations agree that people must have the possibility to express their opinions and 89.5% believe that equality before the law is an indispensable condition of democracy. Yet 48.8% think that the authorities can sometimes violate the law in order to arrest a criminal.
Unlike their elders, the youngest generation shows more tolerance towards members of other groups, such as ethnic and sexual minorities, drug-addicts, criminals, etc. Unlike older generations, many youth believe that homosexual women and men must have the right to live as they want (14.4%).
It is also interesting that young people are more tolerant towards unlawful acts than members of older generations. The only exception is abortion - only a small part of the youth justifies such a decision, which can be explained by the influence of religion on young people. In addition, beating a wife is considered most unacceptable at only 0.5% of respondents justifying it.
Religion plays a more significant role among young people than among older generations. As Nana Sumbadze supposes, the disintegration of the Soviet Union prompted a revaluation of all values and faiths. In such times it is usual to look for a strong and bona fide authority, and the church showed itself to be such an institution. Therefore, it should not be surprising that the influence of the church is stronger on this generation that experienced personal growth and formation after the Soviet epoch, explaining the higher religious values of youth compared to older generations.
Most respondents (65.9%) think that Christianity is more of a basis for self-identity than Georgian citizenship (34.1%). Religion is very important for 55.3% of young respondents, 44.8% of middle age respondents and 41.3% of older respondents. However, only 37% of respondents observe religious rituals (diagram p.54).
Nana Sumbadze explains that the effective functioning of society largely depends on mutual trust and solidarity of the members of the society. General trust in other people is considered one of the conditions of democracy and public activity. However, the research shows that trust in other people is low in Georgia. Only 20.6% of respondents think that the majority deserves their trust, while 79.4% believe that a person needs to be cautious while communicating with others. The results showed that among the most desirable human values that Georgians named, were loyalty to their friends, enjoying respect, rendering assistance to others, attachment to traditions, enjoying a good public image, modesty, etc. (diagram p.26).
Professor Sumbadze said, “We can conclude that we have to deal with the process of changing values among youth, which is expressed by the reduction of a collectivist orientation and slower growth of post-materialist values reflecting political, economic and social change. Low trust in other people indicates that the population is less ready to assume responsibility for the country’s development. As for the lack of participation in the activities of volunteer organizations, it is a serious challenge to democratic development. In addition, the existence of a high level of education in the population, globalization that increases the availability of information and influences people through social media, all these somehow manage to compensate for the effects of economic poverty and promotes the strengthening of democratic values.” In conclusion, she recommends: “To promote the country’s democratic development, it is essential to acquire the experience of participation at an early age. Schools must pursue the policy of involving school children in activities useful for society and school curricula should focus on building trust in other people.”