Research Initiatives

We are constantly in pursuit of new knowledge. Our scholars rethink frameworks, convene new conversations, and deliver cutting-edge analysis. Through collaboration and innovation, we are reimagining what regional scholarship should look like.

Kelly O'Neill in front of map projection

Kelly O'Neill, director of the Davis Center's Imperiia Project, doing what she loves — examining and sharing the meaningful in maps.

Sarah Failla/Davis Center
Machinery in Soviet factory

Cold War Studies

The Cold War Studies Project promotes archival research in former East-bloc countries and seeks to expand and enrich what is known about Cold War events and themes. More important, it encourages scholars and students to use their research on Cold War topics to illuminate current theoretical debates about international and domestic politics.

Yurt with cows grazing in the background

Program on Central Asia

The Program on Central Asia promotes research and teaching at Harvard on the history and current affairs of five Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Medieval church on grassy hilltop surrounded by majestic mountains

Program on Georgian Studies

Advancing the study of Georgia and the South Caucasus through research, scholarly and cultural exchange, teaching, and outreach. 

april 28 2025

The Imperiia Project

What does it take to reconstruct the spatial history of an empire? We are assembling the data, developing the methods, and testing the limits of mapmaking in an effort to find out.