Armed conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2020 and 2022 in connection with Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) are tragic examples of long-running ethnic and geo-political disputes that became flashpoints for war and aggression after the Soviet Union collapsed. This is but one of many other protracted conflicts that have re-escalated into armed conflict in former Soviet Republics, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia, including in Georgia, Chechnya, and Ukraine.

This symposium will examine the role of media institutions, government censorship, and social media speech norms in areas beset by post-Soviet-era disputes over land and ethnicity, examining the role institutions play before, during, and after the conflicts.

We are thrilled to host Dr. Andrei Richter, who will deliver the  Keynote Address in addition to his scholarly paper.