Amkari

Amkari (Persian hamkar - meaning cooperation) is a union of professionals from single or similar fields, that has a charter.

The charter includes the functions of Amkari as a corporation, the rights and obligations of members, production regulations, means of production, organization of a workshop, rules for product distribution, and more. The creation of Amkari is linked to the construction of cities and urban development. Its creation was determined by various factors: the necessity to protect the interests of small producers (businesses), economic and political antagonism between urban and rural areas, and the need to weaken feudal exploitation. Amkari, as a fully developed professional organization, emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries. At this time, Amkari’s internal structure and administrative organs were established; rules of engagement between urban government and the Royal power emerged; and general functions of professional organization and their role in feudal economy and social life were determined.

Before the appearance of Amkari, in Tbilisi, there were various types of artisan and merchant unions. The corporate nature of social-religious groups in the context of social structures of feudal period made way for Amkari. The word Amkari spread in Georgia from the 19th century. Before that, the artisans' unions were referred to as Jamaati, Urtaghi, Opikali, Tabuni, Asnafi, etc.  From the second half of the 19th century, Amkari referred to both artisans and merchant unions.

An elected supervisor, called Ustaba, headed Amkari. After the Amkari rebellions in 1865, their rights were restricted by the Russian Imperial government. In Tbilisi, out of the 150 only 17 Amkaris remained. At the same time, Ustaba was elected by the royal government. Amkaris of Tbilisi preserved their internal structure and traditions until 1921.

J. Kakhniashvili

N. Shiolashvili