Interview with Professor Vasil Katcharava
Interview with Professor Vasil Katcharava
Interviewer Mariam Khatiashvili*
March 5, 2015
On March 5, 2015 Mariam Khatiashvili* had the privilege of interviewing Tbilisi State University full professor, head of the Institute of American Studies and Georgian Association for American Studies and coordinator of American Studies bachelor program at TSU Vasil Katcharava.
Please find the brief version of the interview in English below:
MK: Could you please talk about your educational and academic experience?
VK: I graduated from Ilia Chavchavadze Tbilisi #23 school and enrolled at Tbilisi State University, at the faculty of Western European Studies on the English philology section. Later I enrolled at the faculty of history and graduated with the red diploma. I continued postgraduate studies at Moscow State University. It was the greatest privilege to me that I had the brilliant professors and scientific heads since the school years. Niko Japaridze, Tina Kacharava, Grigol Kutubidze, Kote Antadze, Givi Kighuradze, and Nikolas Sivachov. After Moscow I became the assistant at the faculty of the New and Contemporary History of Asia and Africa. In 1987 I visited the Stanford University, U.S.
MK: What was your dissertation thesis?
VK: It was “The Administration of Herbert Hoover” that as the most interesting topic at that time.
MK: If you were to begin your dissertation again, are there any changes you would make in it?
VK: I would use more references and archive materials.
MK: Who are the three persons who influenced your educational career greatly?
VK: Alexandre Dumas, Yevgeny Tarle and all my professors.
MK: How did you see Georgian American Studies 10 years ago and how do you see this field in 10 years?
VK: I always imagined it was hard to start something. There were many problems, ups and downs. Nowadays we are in the new level of development. I am sure the future will be better.
MK: What does the status of the successful professor mean to you?
VK: It is the best experience to meet the young generation of the country and the great motivation to see the hardworking, motivated, talented students.
MK: Could you please tell us about your publications?
VK: I made the project “Conservative Decades of the 20th Century”, created the political portrays of Eisenhower and Harry Truman. Currently, I work on the America in the 1980s and Ronald Reagan. Also I write the two volumes textbook with Prof. E. Medzmariashvili.
MK: What is the most significant article to you?
VK: It is “Power and the Presidency, From Kennedy to Obama” by Robert Dallek.
MK: What is the last work of art you read?
VK: It is “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac.
MK: What is the most successful academic, scientific program to you?
VK: It is the Fulbright program.
MK: Who is your favorite American scholar?
VK: Frederick Lewis Allen.
MK: Who is the most significant American diplomat to you?
VK: Benjamin Franklin.
MK: What is the most significant period from the U.S. history?
VK: The presidency of Theodor Roosevelt.
MK: What is your favorite American quote?
VK: „The man who builds a factory builds a temple, that the man who works there worships there, and to each is due, not scorn and blame, but reverence and praise“ by Calvin Coolidge.
*Chairperson of American Studies Scientific Group at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University
Interviewer Mariam Khatiashvili*
March 5, 2015
On March 5, 2015 Mariam Khatiashvili* had the privilege of interviewing Tbilisi State University full professor, head of the Institute of American Studies and Georgian Association for American Studies and coordinator of American Studies bachelor program at TSU Vasil Katcharava.
Please find the brief version of the interview in English below:
MK: Could you please talk about your educational and academic experience?
VK: I graduated from Ilia Chavchavadze Tbilisi #23 school and enrolled at Tbilisi State University, at the faculty of Western European Studies on the English philology section. Later I enrolled at the faculty of history and graduated with the red diploma. I continued postgraduate studies at Moscow State University. It was the greatest privilege to me that I had the brilliant professors and scientific heads since the school years. Niko Japaridze, Tina Kacharava, Grigol Kutubidze, Kote Antadze, Givi Kighuradze, and Nikolas Sivachov. After Moscow I became the assistant at the faculty of the New and Contemporary History of Asia and Africa. In 1987 I visited the Stanford University, U.S.
MK: What was your dissertation thesis?
VK: It was “The Administration of Herbert Hoover” that as the most interesting topic at that time.
MK: If you were to begin your dissertation again, are there any changes you would make in it?
VK: I would use more references and archive materials.
MK: Who are the three persons who influenced your educational career greatly?
VK: Alexandre Dumas, Yevgeny Tarle and all my professors.
MK: How did you see Georgian American Studies 10 years ago and how do you see this field in 10 years?
VK: I always imagined it was hard to start something. There were many problems, ups and downs. Nowadays we are in the new level of development. I am sure the future will be better.
MK: What does the status of the successful professor mean to you?
VK: It is the best experience to meet the young generation of the country and the great motivation to see the hardworking, motivated, talented students.
MK: Could you please tell us about your publications?
VK: I made the project “Conservative Decades of the 20th Century”, created the political portrays of Eisenhower and Harry Truman. Currently, I work on the America in the 1980s and Ronald Reagan. Also I write the two volumes textbook with Prof. E. Medzmariashvili.
MK: What is the most significant article to you?
VK: It is “Power and the Presidency, From Kennedy to Obama” by Robert Dallek.
MK: What is the last work of art you read?
VK: It is “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac.
MK: What is the most successful academic, scientific program to you?
VK: It is the Fulbright program.
MK: Who is your favorite American scholar?
VK: Frederick Lewis Allen.
MK: Who is the most significant American diplomat to you?
VK: Benjamin Franklin.
MK: What is the most significant period from the U.S. history?
VK: The presidency of Theodor Roosevelt.
MK: What is your favorite American quote?
VK: „The man who builds a factory builds a temple, that the man who works there worships there, and to each is due, not scorn and blame, but reverence and praise“ by Calvin Coolidge.
*Chairperson of American Studies Scientific Group at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University