Republican Conference for Scientists and Young Researchers “Empires, Imperialism, Colonialism and Post-Imperial Relations. Linguistic Imperialism, Propaganda and Media”

The conference is funded by the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia.

Georgia at the Crossroads of Empires. Rustaveli Foundation, Fundamental Research, Grant Agreement NFR 22-272.

Tbilisi

State formation, transformation in space and time, and historical continuity depend on a number of factors: the concentration and subsequent optimal use of economic resources, territorial unity and centralization, the effectiveness of naval and land military forces, and the formation of political courses and cultural identities. These aspects determine the selection of forms of relations with neighboring states – expansion and establishment of influence, or resistance by a neighboring country – the struggle to maintain independence.

As M. Doyle defines it:

“Empire is a relationship, formal or informal, in which one political society effectively controls the political sovereignty of another political society. Imperialism is the process or policy of establishing or maintaining an empire.”
In the modern world, “empires” have been replaced by the term global states, while the manifestations of imperialism have become more diverse, effective, flexible, and dependent on economics and technology.

The conference aims to study, comprehend, and analyze past and contemporary empires. It focuses on various themes:

• Linguistic imperialism;
• Economic imperialism;
• Cultural imperialism;
• Nationalism and cosmopolitanism;
• Post-imperial alliances;
• Imperial transformations and the redistribution of spheres of influence;
• Propaganda and media as sources of power and influence.

Venue and Date of the Conference:

International Black Sea University, Multidisciplinary Research Center, School of Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences. September 30, 2026.

Organizing Advisory Board:

• Prof. Dr. Tamar Shioshvili – Dean of the School of Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences;
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tea Kbiltsetskhlashvili – Head of the Research and International Projects Department;
• Prof. Dr. Eka Avaliani – Head of the Multidisciplinary Research Center;
• Prof. Tamta Tskhovrebadze – Professor of International Relations.

Organizing Committee:

• Dr. Baia Ivaneishvili – Head of the International Relations Program;
• Asst. Prof. Dr. Magda Memanishvili – Head of the Journalism Program;
• Prof. Dr. Maia Chkotua – Head of the English Philology Program.

• Working Languages: Georgian, English
• Abstract Submission: Abstracts are accepted from March 30, 2026, to May 30, 2026, inclusive, in Georgian and English. Limit: 500 words.

Contact Persons:

• Eka Avaliani – eavaliani@ibsu.edu.ge
• Tamta Tskhovrebadze – ttskhovrebadze@ibsu.edu.ge
• Tea Kbiltsetskhlashvili – tea@ibsu.edu.ge