YEREVAN, Armenia — On June 2 and 3, the American University of Armenia (AUA), in collaboration with the Department of Slavic Studies at Brown University, hosted a two-day international conference titled “Critical Approaches to Russia’s Engagement with the Caucasus.” Held at AUA’s Najarian Center, the conference brought together scholars from Armenia, the United States, and across Europe to examine the complex and evolving dynamics of Russia’s presence in the Caucasus.
In her opening remarks, AUA Provost Dr. Alina Gharabegian underscored the conference’s importance not only as a scholarly forum, but also as a moment of institutional significance, marking the beginning of what will hopefully become a long-term academic partnership between AUA and Brown University. She emphasized that only a multivocal, interdisciplinary dialogue could meaningfully address the layered legacies of Russia’s engagement with the Caucasus.
Dr. Svetlana Evdokimova, chair of Slavic Studies at Brown, echoed this spirit of collaboration, highlighting the shared commitment of both universities to cultivating cross-border scholarly networks. She underscored the need to revisit dominant historical narratives with a critical lens, one attentive to the intersections of power, culture, and identity.
Over the course of four thematic panels — “Symbolism and Ideological Encounters,” “Imperial Narratives and National Identities,” “Visual and Cultural Encounters,” and “Literary Imaginations and Imperial Practices” — participants explored a wide range of topics, including colonial discourse, educational policy, nationalism, and representations of the Caucasus in literature and art. The conference created a dynamic space for dialogue with contributors from institutions such as AUA, Brown University, Yerevan State University, Russian-Armenian University, and Manchester Metropolitan University engaged in rich interdisciplinary exchange that cut across disciplinary boundaries, offering new insights into the intersection of power, identity, and cultural production in the region.
The conference concluded with reflections from Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan, AUA professor, and Dr. Vladimir Golstein, professor at Brown, who spoke to the value of continued intellectual exchange and collaborative inquiry in advancing nuanced understandings of the region. Their remarks expressed hope that this gathering would mark the beginning of an ongoing partnership rooted in critical inquiry.
By centering cultural and historical perspectives, the conference offered a timely reassessment of Russia-Caucasus relations, one that moves beyond geopolitical analysis to foreground the enduring entanglements shaping the region today.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.
