One Hundred years ago in February 1921, the Bolshevik Red Army ended three years of independence of the Democratic Republic of Georgia. Georgia was incorporated into the new Soviet state which was in violation of the May 7th, 1920 agreement between the Russian Federation and Georgia, which had recognized the independence and sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of Georgia. In the three short years of its independence, the Georgian republic established a democratic alternative to Bolshevism, a remarkable model of constitutionalism and free elections in the midst of Great Power avarice and civil wars. What were the circumstances which led to Georgia's annexation by the Soviet state? Could it have been avoided? What does it tell us about the role of small states in international politics, and about the Russian-Georgian relationship as colonizer and colonized?
Our speakers will discuss events from 100 years ago, but we will also focus on parallels and differences between the past and present in Russian-Georgian relations
Speakers include:
Dr. Stephen Jones, Professor, Mount Holyoke College/Vice President, American Research Institute of the South Caucasus
Dr. Beka Kobakhidze, Professor, Co-Chair of the MA Program in Modern History, Ilia State University
Dr. James Carafano, Vice President for the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, Heritage Foundation
Moderated by:
Dr. Mamuka Tsereteli, President, America-Georgia Business Council/Senior Fellow, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at American Foreign Policy Council
This event is co-organized by America-Georgia Business Council, American Friends of Georgia and Georgian Association in the USA
