EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The IDPs in Georgia survey was conducted in June 2010 among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) displaced from Abkhazia as a result of the 1992-93 war and currently living in collective centres. This paper provides a summary and an analysis of the survey findings. The analysis does not aspire to offer a conclusive interpretation of the survey data, but suggests one possible reading among many. It draws on extensive consultations with activists in the IDP network Synergy and a number of experts.
Identification and integration
Most IDPs feel relatively at ease with Georgian society: nearly half of IDPs completely agree – and an additional one third somewhat agree – that they feel a part of Georgian society. Nearly half reject the widespread assumption that IDPs are discriminated against because of their status. But the fact that that 27% say they feel discriminated against and nearly as many chose to answer inconclusively, suggests there is much room for improvement in terms of IDPs’ integration.
IDPs are ambivalent about whether Georgian society is supportive of them: 54% completely or somewhat agree, 12% disagree and 31% answer inconclusively.
Many IDPs tend to feel politically marginalised: only 5% completely agree and 21% somewhat agree that the government takes their concerns seriously. 33% responded negatively and 38% inconclusively. The sense of frustration is most explicit in Tbilisi, where 43% disagree that the government pays serious attention to their concerns. A likely explanation for the variation between regions is that the public discourse in Tbilisi tends to be more liberal and pluralistic.