This lecture by Georgiy Derluguian - professor of sociology and author of the book Bourdieu’s Secret Admirer in the Caucasus - was dedicated to the paradoxical history and present of the Caucasus region.
Georgiy Derluguian discussed the unique features of Abkhazia - from its lack of appeal to the ancient Greeks to its transformation into a world-class resort in the 20th century. Why did ‘roubles fall from the sky’ in the ‘Soviet Riviera’, even as tensions were rising? What lies at the root of the conflicts that erupted at the end of the 20th century, and which forces fueled them?
The lecture offered an attempt to view these complex processes through the lenses of history, economics and sociology, raising important questions about how tragic past events can serve as lessons for a sustainable future.
The session was moderated by Nadezhda Venediktova - journalist, writer and public figure.