Program on Georgian Studies

Welcome to the Davis Center’s Program on Georgian Studies! Our program fosters research on Georgia and the South Caucasus at Harvard, facilitates collaboration between Georgian and American scholars, students, and artists, and enhances the broader community's understanding of the region.

We offer opportunities for students, junior scholars, and faculty from Harvard and Georgia, and for artists from both Georgia and the U.S. On this website, you will find information about grants, fellowships, travel, summer internships, and classes providing different ways to engage with Georgian studies. (More details below.)

Our Georgian language classes offer an immersive experience into the linguistic and cultural heritage of Georgia, giving both the ability to communicate and deeper insights into the region's unique history, traditions, and contemporary significance.

For Harvard affiliates seeking to independently deepen their knowledge of Georgia and the South Caucasus, we offer a research guide on Harvard’s library collections and other resources.

Explore our past and upcoming events, including lectures, workshops, online panels, and film screenings, to gain insights into the region’s history, politics, and culture.

The Program on Georgian Studies is supported by a research award from the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science.

You can contact Program on Georgian Studies coordinator Allison Hart at: ahart@fas.harvard.edu.

Staff and community members gathered after a seminar on Dec. 8, 2023.

Research and Outreach

Opportunites for Harvard Students

Harvard students can travel to Georgia or explore the region from campus.

Opportunities for Scholars and Artists

Scholars from Georgia and faculty at Harvard can advance their engagement with Georgian studies through fellowships and grants.

Black Sea Lab

The Black Sea Lab is an exploratory collaboration across research initiatives at the Davis Center, consisting of a series of conversations to assess scholarly trends and new avenues of inquiry related to security challenges in the Black Sea region.

Library Resources

Explore Harvard's library resources on Georgia and the South Caucasus.

Rooted in Culture

"Rooted in Culture" is more than an exhibition; it is a collaborative art project underscoring the enduring cultural connections between Georgia and the United States.

Colors of Tbilisi

This exhibition features AI-colorized images of Old Tbilisi retrieved from the archives of Tbilisi, Paris, Washington DC, New York, and London.

Related Insights

Georgia's prime minister Bidzinu Ivanishvili

The People vs Georgian Dream: Who Will Win in 2025?

Georgia scholar Stephen Jones examines the high-stakes political landscape in the country and mulls three scenarios in the ongoing contest between opposition-minded citizens and the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Introducing Our 2024-2025 Innovation Fellows

Three REECA students get to embed with Davis Center program teams for a year of mutually fruitful collaboration on topics as diverse as AI literacy, diaspora politics, and green energy.

Fireworks burst over riot police gathered on Rustaveli Avenue in the early hours of 4 December

Are We Witnessing Revolution in Georgia?

Former supporters of the ruling party have begun to peel away, writes Prof. Stephen Jones, leaving an autocratic government — that two weeks ago seemed stable — suddenly on the brink of collapse.

Upcoming Event

'Colors of Tbilisi': Revitalizing an Ancient City With AI

This exhibition is a heartfelt ode to Georgia's capital, offering a meticulously curated selection of colorized images of Old Tbilisi sourced from global archives, including collections in Paris, New York, and London.

Members of the U.S. Navy of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross look on Britain's Royal Navy patrol ship OPV "Trent" in Sea Breeze 2021 maneuvers in the Black Sea, July 7, 2021. Ukraine and NATO have conducted Black Sea drills involving dozens of warships in a two-week show of their strong defense ties and capability following a confrontation between Russia's military forces and a British destroyer off Crimea last month.

Past Event

Stormfront in the Black Sea: Navigating Euro-Atlantic Security Amid Regional Turmoil

This expert panel will explore the multifaceted dimensions of Black Sea security, focusing on its pivotal role in global stability. Discussions will address defense and military challenges, Russia’s aggression and its impact on regional stability, and the implications of the militarization of the Black Sea. Panelists will also examine the strategic importance of regional partnerships, NATO’s eastern flank, and countering hybrid threats such as cyberattacks, disinformation, and economic coercion.