ASP Lecture | Movements of people, money and cultures: Migration and its effects on the post-Soviet transition processes in the South Caucasus

Migration is not only a movement of people, it is also a movement and exchange of cultures, ideas, technologies, labor, money, and various forms of capital. Migration entails social and cultural change, as it affects political and economic processes. Nations in the South Caucasus have migratory ties mainly with Russia, European countries and the US. What these countries exchange through migration is closely related to their development processes.

This presentation will explore how Soviet period migrant networks perpetuate migratory processes from the former “colonies” to Russia and instigate new flows of migration. With migratory ties, social networks, migrants’ transnational activities Russia maintains its influence on many  former “colonies.” Alina Poghosyan will discuss the variety of migration profiles of the South Caucasian countries, and will examine how the exchange of cultural, social and economic capital influences different trajectories of development in these countries.

Cosponsored by the Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies (CREES) and the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures.