Georgia - Tbilisi School of Political Studies (1999)
Since 1999, the Tbilisi School of Political Studies has contributed to enhancing the political and electoral culture in Georgia as well as to encouraging public debate on democracy. Political, civil, legal and electoral education is the necessary basis for a democratic environment, rule of law and fair elections, which in turn is the only way to rebuild confidence in political and electoral processes, political parties, government and the media, businesses and the courts.
N 22, Pavle Ingorokva street
0108 Tbilisi
Tel./Fax : +995 322 922862
E-mail : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Director : Armaz AKHVLEDIANI
“Since the establishment of the Tbilisi school of Political Studies in 1999, we have drawn attention to the development of a democratic culture within the country. One of the main goals of the School has been making civil society understand that it is impossible to build a normal state without having built a democratic culture and institutions. The school is the place where you realize that democracy starts from you and that, democracy is the unity of self-conscious, bold, educated, decent and cultured personalities.”
Armaz AKHVLEDIANI, Director
About the School
The target audience of the school are prominent young people working in a various fields (politicians, journalists, lawyers, businessmen, representatives of non-governmental as well as governmental sector), interested and involved in the process of democratisation and rule of law in the context of strengthening the political, legal and electoral culture of Georgia.
The School supports of the freedom of mass media and freedom of speech as well as contributing to the civic and electoral education of the community. It is the School’s view that a democratic environment, rule of law and fair elections are not possible without appropriate political, civil, legal and electoral education. This is also an important step for rebuilding confidence in political and electoral processes, political parties, government and media, non-governmental sector, business and the court.
Each academic year, the School offers four two-day seminars. The seminars include the discussion of the problems such as:
· The main challenges of the democratic process in contemporary Georgia
· The role of the rule of law in democratisation
· Independent courts as a central aspect of fair elections
· Involvement of civil society in the electoral process
· The system of “checks and balances”
· The role of independent and objective media for free elections.
Around 60 people participate in the School’s programme each year. 30 are selected on the basis of applications and interviews, with the other 30 being comprised of selected members of the School’s alumni. The cohort is made up of successful and motivated young men/women of different professions who are directly or indirectly involved in election process. Those interested in applying should contact the School directly.
About the Director
Armaz Akhvlediani has been the Director of the Tbilisi School of Political Studies since 1999. Following on from his studies in political science at the Moscow State University, having achieved his PhD in 1994, Armaz Akhvlediani went on to lecture at the Batumi State University. In 1995 he was elected as a Member of the Georgian Parliament, where he was the first deputy chairman of the Committee for Foreign Relations. Elected for a second term, he sat on the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe until 2004, continuing to lecture at the Tbilisi State University during this time. Since 2013, he has been involved with the Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia” Party, holding the role of International Secretary. He is currently the founder and chairman of the Centre for Democratic Audit.
