Paper short abstract:

This paper studies the emergence and evolution of informal economic practices in Poti, Georgia. Through the lens of precarious labour, ruderal ecologies, and the reclamation of maritime rights, the study explores how people forge connections between present uncertainties and future possibilities.

Paper long abstract:

This paper investigates the emergence and evolution of informal economic practices in response to the collapse of Soviet infrastructure in the port town of Poti, Georgia. Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the dismantling of established infrastructures gave rise to a ruderal environment where the remnants of the Soviet era intersect with new forms of economic adaptation. In this context, scrap metal collection and fish smoking became prominent survival strategies, transforming the "remnants of the Empire" into capitalist commodities and forging new economic relationships. As Georgia experienced political instability, economic collapse, and social upheaval, individuals adapted by engaging in self-reliant labour practices amidst widespread infrastructural decay. This paper traces how these practices emerged in the 1990s and have persisted, becoming integral to local livelihoods despite state-led marketization efforts following the “Rose Revolution” of 2003. The analysis highlights the resilience and ingenuity of those marginalized by neoliberal reforms, revealing how communities navigate precarious futures shaped by economic instability and environmental decline. By focusing on how local communities contest state-driven reforms aimed at privatising and regulating access to maritime resources, the study shows how these practices serve as economic lifelines and act as resistance against the capitalist restructuring of local economies. Through the lens of precarious labour, ruderal ecologies, and the reclamation of maritime rights, the paper explores how people forge connections between present uncertainties and future possibilities. It offers a nuanced understanding of how individuals negotiate precarity, reconfigure their built environments, and cultivate economic resilience amidst instability.