Effects of Globalization

As globalization has made its way into the North Caucasus in the 21st Century, it has correlated with obvious impacts on the peoples. However, the background above shows us a key insight on outside influences in the Caucasus, namely, strong resistance. The Godoberi people will not simply “go with the wind”. In Makarycev’s paper, “Islands of Globalization”, he describes “Ethnic communities of this kind appear to be rather closed, inward-oriented entities, worrying much more about keeping intact their own cultural, religious, and linguistic identities than about integrating into the ‘world society’.”[1]

However, change has been inevitable, even in such a region. One consequence is unemployment. Globalization may not be the direct reason, but unemployment rates of the Russia Federation have been the highest in the North Caucasus going back to 2005. The greatest deficit statistically was in 2006, where unemployment reached a tremendous 22.6%, but we must realize this was the first year Chechnya was counted. Nonetheless from 2005 to 2016, the rate never went below 10%.[2] This has led many locals to seek work in cities beyond Dagestan.

A crucial reality to notice is unemployment rates becoming equal for men and women in 2009 and following. This points to a large cultural transition in family roles. In these cultures, women are the ones always in the home. But in the 21st Century, they are taking on significantly more jobs. The differences of roles for men and women run deep in the North Caucasus, so such a statistical change points to a tremendous cultural shift beginning to happen.[3] We cannot assume that the ideology or values are changing, for it may simply be a shift in necessity and practicality. Nonetheless, this is no small change for a patriarchal society.

This shift isn’t limited to the husband and wife, for whole family units are being transformed. Back in 1993, the Red Book had already put it this way: “Family relations have undergone profound changes, with the disintegration of the former community and the replacement of large families by small”.[4] This clear cultural shift in family relations back in the early 90’s deserves further spotlight due to theories on Godoberi distinctives.

For the Red Book explains: “A theory that has gained popularity in recent times suggests that the linguistic variety of the Andi-Koisu river basin is due to the traditional endogamic social order or political polystructuralism”.[5]

Endogamic refers to marrying within the Godoberi people, keeping a “pure” people group that reinforces the cultural traditions. Political polystructuralism is a harder concept to unpack. Structuralism refers to an underlying system that produces the unique practices and behaviors of the Godoberi people. Therefore, polystructuralism designates multiple systems that influence these core cultural practices, possibly being very complex. Lastly, political polystructuralism points to a political or formal nature to the plurality of systems, which likely helps to reinforce and maintain each system.

If you have any familiarity with Dagestani cultures, you know that song, dance, and folk tales have always played an ongoing role. Traditional tales, songs, poetry, and folklore as a whole have shown signs of reemerging in importance in the 21st Century. “It looks like that the folklore heritage of our time becomes a thing of the past, but the increased interest of different peoples to their ethnic-cultural origins, to their ethnic identity, has actualized its role, especially for small peoples”[6] (emphasis mine). The wealth of ways this is being pursued, including the use of new technology, presents a unique opportunity. This renewed interest in these areas could likely be the key that leads to the preservation of a number of Caucasus cultures, especially small ones like the Godoberi. However, there remains mixed feelings, so it remains to be seen what the state of folklore will be.[7]

Amidst the legitimate reemergence of culture, there’s strong pull in the other direction. If we pull back to see the big picture, there is a general shift happening between generations. “The younger generations have lost all links with their ethnic traditions, which are seen as a compulsory routine, not as a component of national identity. As the ethnic traditions disappear, Soviet customs and European habits of life (clothing, household appliances, architecture, food) are spreading”.[8] This phenomenon is common within any culture of course, but when it happens to a small, traditional people group, we ought to take notice. In this shift we cannot miss the ongoing influence of Russia on this area sprouting from the post Soviet effects. Living under an expansive and effective regime for 70 years brings cultural shifts. Though the Soviet Union is no longer in place, Russia still has strong control over Dagestan.

The Godoberi language has been a staple distinctive for the people. Some past general survey work has shown that the language is shifting in use. It is mainly the adults who speak it, with fewer children learning it.[9] My observations, to this point, suggest that this is both due to the shifting of the culture as a whole, and the natural predominance of the Russian language in the region. As just mentioned, the Soviet Union was effective in spreading their ideals, with one of them being literacy. Russia remains the main educational language after 5th grade, with Avar having strong influence prior to this.[10] The prevalence of Russian is strong, however the Godoberi language isn’t yet nearing extinction.

In this whole paper the focus has been on shifts from within the culture, however there is a shift more concretely noticeable. As was mentioned in the background, the Godoberi have four mountain villages. In the past decades there has been much more movement from the rugged mountain life to the coastal cities. This move has mainly been to the capital Makhachkala, as far as we know. Makhachkala isn’t a typical “modern” city, but provides an easier way of life that has proved enticing for more Godoberi people in recent decades.

Footnotes

[1] A.S. Makaryčev, "Islands of globalization: regional Russia and the outside world," Research Collection, accessed February 19, 2019, https://www.research-collection.ethz.ch/handle/20.500.11850/144723, 17. [2] Andrei N. Ershov and Aleksandra A. Salatova, "Unemployment and the Unemployed in Russia: Features, Structure, Dynamics from 2000 to 2016," The Journal of Social Sciences Research - Academic Research Publishing Group, accessed February 14, 2019, https://arpgweb.com/pdf-files/SPI-1-JSSR18-28-48-53.pdf, 49. [3] Ibid, 51. [4] “The Red Book”. [5] Ibid. [6] Abdulakim M. Adjiev et al., "DAGHESTAN PEOPLE FOLKLORE PHENOMENON AS A UNITY IN DIVERSITY," The Turkish Online Journal of Design, Art and Communication - TOJDAC, accessed February 19, 2019, http://www.tojdac.org/tojdac/VOLUME8-MRCHSPCL_files/tojdac_v080MSE170.pdf. [7] Ibid. [8] “The Red Book”. [9] “Ghodoberi”. [10] “The Red Book”.