The modern era and the rapid development of information technologies have raised an important issue, particularly relevant for Georgia: how small nations and countries can promote and preserve their cultural identity while adapting their traditions and internal development dynamics to the challenges of globalization. In this context, the initiation, support, and implementation of international projects focused on Georgian Studies are of great significance not only for Georgia but also for the global scientific community.
The annual international scientific conference "Georgia and the Caucasus – Past, Present, Future," held since 2022, serves as a key academic forum that brings together researchers specializing in Caucasiology and Georgian Studies from both Georgia and abroad. The conference sessions cover a wide range of disciplines within the humanities and social sciences, including history, source studies, archaeology, ethnology, anthropology, philology, cultural studies, art history, sociology, psychology, philosophy, digital Kartvelology, economics, international relations, and geopolitics, among others. This broad thematic scope gives the event a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary character, underscoring its academic significance.
The primary objectives of the conference are to:
a) Emphasize the importance of scientific research on Georgia in both local and global contexts;
b) Foster collaboration between Georgian and international scholars;
c) Encourage interdisciplinary and intercultural research initiatives;
d) Promote the use of digital resources in Georgian Studies;
e) Increase the engagement of young researchers in various fields of Georgian Studies.
By addressing these goals, the conference plays a vital role in advancing academic discourse on Georgia and the Caucasus while strengthening international scholarly networks.
Tamaz Beradze Institute of Georgian Studies is an independent, multidisciplinary scientific research unit of the University of Georgia, whose field of activity is the planning, coordination and implementation of research in the field of Georgian studies, which, in a broad sense, includes all humanitarian fields studying Georgia: Linguistics, literary studies, art, archeology, folkloristics, ethnography, numismatics, spragistics, history, economics, jurisprudence, philosophy, psychology, epigraphy, paleography, source studies, etc. As well as the history of non-humanitarian fields and the presentation of scientists working in these fields.
The institute plans to organize national and international academic events and cooperate with various academic institutions, research and training centers, carry out expert, consulting and representative activities, organize conferences and seminars, create electronic databases, museums and exhibition spaces, etc.