Ilia Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education participated in the “Think Tank Forum” organized by the Georgian Institute of Politics in Tbilisi on December 9 at the Radisson Hotel.

Zaza Bibilashvili, the Founder of the Center, presented a report at a panel “Role of Think Tanks in a Polarized Political Environment”. Our founder spoke about the vision, priorities and current activities of the Center. “Our overall, long-term goal is to make Georgian politics demand-driven rather than supply-based. The political agenda must be created by the citizens and the political class must be held hostages of the strong citizens, not vice versa. This will increase the sense of engagement, make the political playing field more pluralistic and representative, reduce the growing of nihilism and enhance democratic impulses within the country”.

The forum “Role of Think Tanks in Improving Georgian Democracy” aims to bring together leading think tanks and organizations with similar missions, discuss their role and challenges related to civic engagement, as well as to strengthen partnerships among civil society actors.