At the Crossroads of Social Inclusion and Exclusion: The Experience of Muslim ‘Adjarians’

ABSTRACT This study explores the intricate relationship between religious conversion and social inclusion among the Muslim population of Adjara, a region marked by its diverse religious heritage. Amidst the backdrop of post‐Soviet Georgia, where Orthodox Christianity plays a pivotal role in national identity, Muslim Georgians of Adjara encounter unique challenges to social integration. Through comprehensive fieldwork, including interviews conducted in Batumi, Kobuleti and Tbilisi from 2015 to 2018, this research investigates how conversion to Georgian Orthodox Christianity emerges as a pathway to belonging for some in the Muslim community. The findings illuminate the nuanced dynamics of identity, belonging and marginalization, highlighting how religious affiliation influences perceptions of Georgian identity. This study contributes to the broader discourse on the complexities of religious conversion, social cohesion and the quest for inclusion in a rapidly changing sociopolitical landscape.