Shades of Displacment

Abstract

Acts of resistance against forced displacement can manifest itself through a wide variety of social and cultural expressions. This thesis explores resistance against the dam-induced displacement in the highlands of Georgia s Svaneti region. This case study explores how the Khaishian Svans resist hydropower dam-induced displacement through practicing traditional law. The study also explores the effects of the Georgian government s lack of decision-making throughout numerous years, and how this uncertainty affect local people s lives. By employing ground-up, qualitative case study research, I found out that a) the use of traditional law by the Khaishi community, involves a strategy of asserting a convincing collective identity in the process of dealing with political claims against the authorities, and that b) the revitalization of traditional law by the resisters of Khaishi, signifies the end of dialogue on displacement with the authorities, which has excluded the local community from the decision-making process from 1979 and until today.