Electoral Reform in a Post-Soviet Republic: The case of Georgia

Mikheil Shavtvaladze

doi:10.22151/politikon.18.2

Authors

Mikheil Shavtvaladze Tbilisi State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22151/politikon.18.2

Keywords:

electoral studies, Georgia, case study, post-Soviet regime change

Abstract

The paper aims to contribute to the comparative electoral studies in post-soviet sphere, with particular focus on Georgia. Specifically, I tried to examine the major features of the recent electoral reform in Georgia in line with the "theory of post-soviet regime change" and analyzed the extent of the reform's trustworthiness in terms of holding free and fair competitive elections in Georgia. The summary of conclusions drawn from the analysis shows that this particular case of electoral reform can be adequately explained by the theory on post-soviet regime change.

Author Biography

Mikheil Shavtvaladze, Tbilisi State University

Mikheil Shavtvaladze, 33, is a graduate who received his Bachelor in "International Economic Relations" at the Georgian Technical University in 2011. In 2010, he obtained a MA in Political Science at the Central European University. He has written his Master Thesis on the post-soviet transitions and conflict resolution and currently works at the Tbilisi State University. His interests include comparative politics, democratization and state building, modernization and development, conflict resolution, foreign policy analysis.