РОССИЙСКО-АРМЯНСКИЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ

30 Oct
2026

RAU Political Science Chair Head Hovhannes Sargsyan Speaks at International Conference in St. Petersburg

Sargsyan presented a paper titled “Transformation of Societies in the South Caucasus through the Lens of the Concept of Social Architecture.”

Hovhannes Sargsyan, Head of the K. Mirumyan Chair of Political Science at the Russian-Armenian University, took part in the 2nd International Scientific and Practical Conference “Social Architecture: Theory and Practice of Social Change,” held on October 23–24 in St. Petersburg. He attended the event at the invitation of St. Petersburg State University.

The conference brought together more than 600 scholars and experts from 35 countries, as well as representatives of over 90 Russian cities and 120 universities. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a welcoming address to the participants.

The discussions focused on how individuals, societies, and states can shape their own futures amid rapid technological and social change. Participants explored social architecture as a tool for designing societal transformations, long-term planning, and developing alternative scenarios for the future. The conference also featured the presentation of the textbook Social Architecture: Theory and Practice of Social Change, edited by S. Volodenkov.

At the session “Society as a Subject of Collective Future Design,” Sargsyan presented a paper titled “Transformation of Societies in the South Caucasus through the Lens of the Concept of Social Architecture.” In his remarks, he highlighted the growing role of social architecture in Russia as a field of public policy, an educational discipline, and a tool for shaping social processes. He also emphasized the potential for applying Russian experience in other regions and countries.

The conference put forward an initiative to establish an International Center for Future Studies at the Institute of Social Architecture. The center is expected to serve as an international research and expert platform for studying visions of the future, developing long-term forecasts, and exploring solutions for societal development while taking into account the national interests, traditions, and values of different countries.

The conference was organized by the Expert Institute for Social Research, the Institute of Social Architecture of the “Russia – Land of Opportunity” Presidential Platform, and St. Petersburg State University.