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Paper short abstract

This paper explores how the Soviet ethnographic legacy shapes contemporary Georgian academia, marked by polarisation, and argues that ethnography can bridge divides, foster dialogue, and guide forward-looking, inclusive research.

Paper long abstract

In contemporary Georgian academia, the legacies of the Soviet ethnographic school coexist with sharply polarised scholarly and social landscapes. This paper examines how historical ethnographic practices were shaped by institutional, political, and ideological pressures, and how these patterns continue to influence current anthropological knowledge production. Drawing on archival research, fieldwork, and sustained engagement with Georgian ethnology, I approach this legacy with curiosity rather than moral judgment, aiming to unpack the forces, alignments, and tensions that structure academic and social debates. I argue that ethnography, both as a method and as an intellectual framework, offers a unifying approach capable of bridging divisions, fostering dialogue, and generating new insights. By reflecting on past experience and imagining forward-looking practices, this study proposes pathways for collaborative and inclusive research, demonstrating the potential of ethnography to transform polarised spaces and cultivate shared understanding in contemporary Georgian anthropology.