
Dave Elder-Vass (2024)
October 17, 2024
First talk of the Canadian Sociological Association Economic Sociology RC 2024-25 Speaker Series on “Confronting Contemporary Capitalism”.
YouTube
Dave Elder-Vass (2024)
October 17, 2024
First talk of the Canadian Sociological Association Economic Sociology RC 2024-25 Speaker Series on “Confronting Contemporary Capitalism”.
YouTube
Olga Bronnikova, Sofia Gavrilova & Tamara Margvelashvili (2025)
Problems of Post-Communism, Open access
Abstract. This article explores the coexistence of the Russian émigré community and Georgian civil society in Tbilisi and the tensions between them since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It analyzes how these interactions reflect broader post-colonial dynamics, particularly focusing on the differing political grammars and histories that shape both communities. Drawing from extensive fieldwork, the study highlights the complexities of this encounter, emphasizing the influence of historical narratives, collective action, and the post-Soviet socio-political context. The paper uncovers the nuances of visibility, integration, and mutual perceptions, ultimately contributing to the broader debates on post-socialist societies, migration, and civil society development.
Extract: “Conceptualizing Civil Society by Different Grammars of Collective Action in Former Soviet Spaces
The current research draws on a very specific mixture of political theory, sociology, and migration studies. First, this research looks into the way civil society in the former Soviet countries develops, and what are the grammars of collective action (civic, liberal, domestic) (Thévenot Citation2020) that started to develop in Russia and Georgia after the breakup of the Soviet Union. As Laurent Thévenot points out, when we communicate disagreement, which is often the foundation of collective political action, we need to rely on common forms in order to be understood by others. Pragmatic sociology, or the sociology of conventions, proposes to pay attention to the way in which intimate experiences and personal concerns are transformed into a common language that makes sense to others.” (p. 4)