Institute for Policy Studies (IPS)
OPEN
SOCIETY INSTITUTE RELATED PUBLLIC POLICY CENTER
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Name of the Center Address Tel/Fax E-mail address Web – site |
Institute for Policy Studies
(IPS) Mail: PO Box # 158 (4)
Tbilisi 380008 Georgia Office: 12-411, Melikishvili
Street, Tbilisi +995-32-221385 |
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Description of the Center (for
example: date started, purpose and objectives, main interests and fields of
activity etc) |
The Institute for Policy Studies was
established in Tbilisi in December 2001, with the support of the Open Society
Institute - Budapest and the Open Society – Georgia Foundation. As the IPS is
only starting its research activity, most of the projects described below are
at the early stage of their implementation. The concept behind
launching the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) was to create a think tank
that could bring together available resources, international experience and
technologies in order to deal with the tasks of studying, analysis,
monitoring and initiating public debate focusing on the most solvent social
and political issues, developing respective policy recommendations and
initiatives, promoting the ideas of good governance and democratic
state-building. The Institute
for Policy Studies concentrates its research and discussion on the key issues
of the social domain, on development of respective policies, legal
initiatives and recommendations. The Institute intends cover not only
Georgian issues, but create a comparative framework for the whole area of the
Southern Caucasus and the Black Sea – Caspian region, where the need for such
activities obviously exists. Currently,
the policy research work of the IPS concentrates along some of the following
priority directions: · Regional conflicts and minorities issue in state building; Democratic participation and integration of minorities; Population migration, repatriation and adaptation of forced migrants, Problems of IDPs and refugees; · Prospects of involvement in European integration process and related policy changes; Monitoring and implementing European standards in human and minority rights, freedom of information and judiciary, social services and environment protection; · Poverty and vulnerability, Efficacy of anti-poverty and welfare programs and of social services; Social discrimination/equity, affirmative action and availability of adequate healthcare and education opportunities for all; Generation and gender in the society; · Regional co-operation and models of security arrangements in the new geopolitical environment, vis a vis the emergence of global terrorism; Regional integration, development and security related attitudes, approaches and concepts among the population and the decision-makers; · Future of business-labour relations and social contract; Trade-unions and labour protection institutions and mechanisms; Human resources, unemployment and development; · Monitoring efficacy and adequacy of international assistance programs and approaches, and understanding the roots of frequent failures and misconduct; Designing tools for optimisation and effective monitoring of international assistance; ·
Good governance on national,
regional and local levels; Corruption and anti-corruption programs;
Effectiveness of checks and balances mechanisms; Harmonization of
center-periphery relations; Local governments, decentralization and
federalization. |
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Details of senior and/or
management staff |
International Advisory
Board: Prof. Vamik Volkan of the University of Virginia, USA Ms.
Pamela Kilpadi,
OSI IPF, Budapest Prof. Theodore Hanf of the University of Freiburg, Germany Prof. Uwe Hentschel of the University of Leiden, Netherlands Dr. Ivan Krastev of the Center for Liberal Strategies in Sofia. Management is carried out by
two co-directors: Nana Sumbadze works at the Chair of Social Psychology of Tbilisi State University. She received her PhD in social science at Leiden University. Worked in areas of sociology, psychology and public policy. Currently - International Policy Fellow of the Open Society Institute, Budapest. During the last several years was involved in a number of projects related to the areas of social integration, poverty, participation and gender. In 1999 awarded the McArthur Foundation individual grant for the project "Adaptation of Georgian women to economic change". Worked as UNICEF consultant during the preparation of "Women and Children in Georgia: Situation analysis". In 2000 visiting scholar at the Kennan Institute in Washington, DC. Fields of expertise include sociological and social-psychological research, surveys and focus groups, qualitative and quantitative data analysis. Combines research with teaching university courses in Social Psychology, Health Psychology and Environmental Psychology. George Tarkhan-Mouravi works currently as a social and political analyst specializing in the fields of Caucasian political processes, democratic transition, and poverty studies. Was involved in developing civic sector in Georgia, having initiated and/or headed a number of NGOs and companies, such as e.g. the Center for Geopolitical and Regional Studies, Georgian Association for Innovative Technologies, Ulevi, and some others. Was involved in a number of research projects dealing with political culture, poverty and social development. Served as a National Coordinator of the UNDP Human Development Report for Georgia, Yearbooks of 1995, 1996 and 1997. Received a number of fellowships and awards - "Research and Writing Grant for Individual Project" by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, 1999 – 2000, Contemporary Issues Fellowship of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Department of State; NATO Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council Research Fellowship; Open Society Institute International Policy Fellowship. |
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Public Policy projects (Dates,
Title, Sponsor, Content, Outputs) |
Public Policy projects with institutional component CENTER FOR SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP The Center is designed as a facility for carrying out social integration activities. Initially, the project is dealing with the problems of the two groups of population related culturally or historically to Georgia and predominantly living in neighbouring Azerbaijan (these mainly include two ethnic groups – Ingilos, both Moslem and Christian, Georgian-speaking group historically living in Northwestern Azerbaijan, and Moslem Meskhetians – Turcophone group deported in 1944 to Central Asia and now spread all over Central Asia, North Caucasus, Russia and Ukraine, but in the first place concentrated in Azerbaijan). The project is implemented together with the Fund for Social Development (Tbilisi), a group of experts on religious minorities working at the parliament, as well as in partnership with the organization of Meskhetian women in Baku. A number of activities is planned in support of exchange of information, providing medical assistance, textbooks, teaching Georgian language (to Turkic-speaking Meskhetians in preparation to their repatriation to Georgia), organizing a joint summer camp for children from different communities, etc. The concept and organizational structure of the “Center for Social Partnership” is currently being developed, and the IPS serve as its initiator and founding partner. Funding is requested from the Open Society – Georgia Foundation. REGULAR PANEL SURVEY Instrument for collection and analysis of public opinion on social
and political development There is a deficiency in Georgia of reliable and regular data on opinions, participation, social and political activities, preferences and needs of population. Absence of systematic studies does not permit to monitor dynamics of the process of building civil society and to identify hindrances on this way. Non-comparability of exixsting information restrics comparisons both between the groups of population as well as in the same persons over time and hence making inferences on possible reasons and working out recommendations. Especially low is the possibility of getting information concerning different regions of Georgia. The project is aimed at gathering, analysing and making accessible the information on public opinion, perceptions and preferences of the country’ s population in order for decission makers and exacutive bodies of all levels to base their activities on reliable data. The obtained information will also allow to make policy analyses and work out realistic recommendations. Regular panel survey in our view will serve the objectives of the project the best. panel study provides opportunity to survey the same individual several times and trace the changes in individuals over time. This panel enables to make at least tentative causal conclusions and descriptions of the link between the events. It also enables to examine and monitor the effectiveness of intervention strategies. Due to our interest to have opinion not only of Georgian population as a whole, but also to have of the regions separetely, the survey will be carried out in all 11 regions of Georgia, but the share of the responsdents of each region will be determined by the share of the population of a given region in the population of Georgia. Funding is requested from the OSI Local Government Initiative. |
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Social Research and Public Policy projects DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE This is a priority topic for us due to upcoming elections of the local governments, and if the start-up of some other research project could be postponed, here the time restrictions are imposed by the timing of the elections. During previous parliamentary and presidential elections the members of the IPS have carried out several opinion surveys related to political and democratic culture, political attitudes and preferences, and the political participation of the population. We again intend to carry out a similar survey before and possibly immediately after the local elections to be held in October 2002, using this opportunity to better understand the direction of democratic transition in the society and social and political activity of the population, consider policies to be chosen by the civil society and the international pro-democracy actors in order to strengthen participation, democratic attitudes and skills among the population. Funding is requested from the OSCE and the Open Society - Georgia Foundation. INTEGRATION OF MINORITIES INTO POLITICAL AND
ECONOMIC LIFE: MOVING TOWARD EUROPEAN STANDARDS Although there is a long way until Georgia could be considered as eligible for full integration into European structures, due to general orientation of both the population and the political élites toward the West, this serves as a strong incentive for adjusting to European standards in all spheres of life, including the human rights area, legislation, minority issues, social and economic statistics, technological norms, and many other aspects. We intend to start monitoring this process of adjustment in a number of specific areas linked to democratisation process. The idea is to follow the same line and cover the same topics as the OSI initiated EU Accession Monitoring Program (Minorities protection, Judicial independence, etc.), thus relying strongly on expertise and methodological assistance available in the framework of this program, elaborated during the work on country reports for accession states – Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, and others. In particular, the first area we plan to cover will be the minority rights and their protection in Georgia (possibly later we could expand to cover other countries of South Caucasus – Armenia and Azerbaijan), preparing a comprehensive publication on this issue. The project is at the early stage of development. DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT FOR A MOUNTAINOUS REGION OF
SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI We plan to work on a conceptual model of economic development for a mountainous and multi-ethnic region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, characterized by extremely broad spectrum of burning problems, where ongoing withdrawal of Russian military base, as well as developments linked to major transportation projects may totally change the economic picture and need thorough and cautious planning. At the same time we hope to utilize experience acquired during this work, in order to consider broader task of economic development policies on national level.. We have already initiated within the framework of the Council of Europe a concrete project for international cooperation between different regions of Europe, and we hope to use internationally available experience in order to proceed with above-mentioned development concept. The format and the funding of the project is currently discussed with the OSGF. |
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POVERTY AND DEVELOPMENT IN GEORGIA: PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION IN DEVELOPING THE GOVERNMENT’S PROGRAM One of our priorities is developing a systemic approach to poverty reduction in Georgia, considered as priority by the Government as well as by leading international organizations involved in the region – the World Bank, the IMF, the UNDP, EU TACIS, USAID, and others. The government made an attempt to develop a conceptual framework for such process, the National Program for Overcoming Poverty and Economic Growth, published recently in order to initiate public debate around it. Together with a number of non-governmental organizations, the IPS is actively involved in working on the draft document, in order to make it more logically consistent and adequate, through a sequence of general and sectoral workshops organized by the Partnership for Social Initiative, and the National Expert on Participation, Dr. David Gzirishvili. The activity is funded by the British Department for International Development. ADAPTATION AND INTEGRATION OF FORCED MIGRANTS (DEPORTED MESKHETIANS) We work currently on the problem of adaptation and integration of one specific group of forced migrants, namely Muslim Meskhetians (Meskhetian Turks), who were deported under Stalin in 1944, and try to repatriate ever since (this is also the focus of work of one of co-directors of the IPS, Nana Sumbadze, in the framework of the OSI International Policy Fellowship). Georgia has undertaken an obligation with the Council of Europe (and OSCE) to solve this sensitive issue in 12 years, however little is done to make the repatriation process smooth and effective, against the background of general hostility among the local population toward the idea. There is a complex spectrum of difficulties, linguistic, religious, economic, security-related and others that need holistic, integrated approach and clear-cut policy concept in order to avoid new violence and destabilization, and at the same time meet moral and legal obligations. We also intend to apply gained experience and skills to the consideration of the adaptation and other social problems of forced migrants in other regions, namely Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and the Pankisi Gorge. The project is implemented by the IPS co-director in the framework of her IPF fellowship. REGIONAL
SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN SOUTH CAUCASUS Another important area of interest of IPS is developing conceptual framework for regional security and cooperation in the South Caucasus (this is also the topic researched by the IPS co-director G. Tarkhan-Mouravi, in the framework of the OSI International Policy Fellowship). Although many statements have been made by political leaders of each country in the region, as well as some other neighbouring countries (e.g. Turkey), there is surprisingly little done to develop a concept of desirable and mutually acceptable arrangement with feasible implementation plan. The only somewhat developed model prepared by the CEPS (Centre for European Policy Studies) team in Brussels notwithstanding its theoretical attractiveness, does not take into account the real disposition of interests and their collision, and is logically inconsistent. It is important to stimulate public discourse throughout the region in order to create a bank of ideas that may lead to more realistic solutions. |
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COOPERATIVE PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL
POLICY IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS The program plans to use cooperative effort of the experts from all three
South Caucasian countries in order to design approaches and methods that
would make interventions more efficient and cost-effective. It is planned to
take three districts (one in each country) and develop a conceptual framework
for effective intervention in close contact with schools, local governments,
ministry of education and donors. All three South Caucasus republics –
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia – are sharing the similar problems and
changing along the same general patterns. Despite an obvious need for
information and experience sharing, if not coordinated policies, nothing of
this kind exists so far, even when educational reforms is planned, financed
and managed by the same international organizations such as the World Bank.
Information exchange and coordination will in addition bring together experts
from countries divided by conflict. There are two groups of problems that
sound rather similar for all three South Caucasus republics, but are either
avoided or paid minimum attention by the policy planners and decision makers
both on the national and international levels. · In the absence of an adequate financing school administrations have developed “shadow financing” system under which parents are directly contributing to schools in cash or in kind. This obviously promotes corruption, lead to inequality, restricts access to schools for children from poorest families and undermine generally accepted ideas of equitable school education in open, democratic societies; · Representatives of local communities are generally estranged from school system and have little participation in development of school policies. Parents have no control over allocation and spending of accumulated funds, even if they have contributed themselves to these funds. Schools generally ignore everyday problems of communities. · There is little influence of advanced pedagogical ideas upon the organization of the school life, curriculum development, teacher-children relations or the general principles of presenting educational material. Little use is made of the opportunities opened by contemporary technologies, both due to lack of material resources and training The project intends to contribute to general improvement of educational level, enhancing equity in access to education and promoting stronger participation of community and parents in educational process and decision-making. OSI International Policy Fellows from Georgia (Valeri Melikidze), and Azerbaijan (Ibrahim Ismailov, Nagir Buimova), have already agreed on cooperation, and it is expected that Armenian colleagues will join the team soon. The Georgian portion of the project is considered to be implemented in partnership with the Horizonti foundation, while support for the regional partnership dimension is to be requested from the East-East program of the OSI. |
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GENERATIONAL COHORTS, YOUTH AND GENDER IN FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY Although equal rights are declared in all legal documents, the reality shows significant differences in opportunities for different generation and gender groups. We intend to study the role of age gender in the family and in the community, analyze the factors that influence disadvantage of certain groups in current socio-economic setting, and the need for legislative or affirmative action in respective cases. Special focus will be made on analysing cross-cultural differences (with comparative research carried out in Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan) between different ethno-confessional groups and in the special case of forced migrants. The intention is to understand the patterns that are hindering equity and development, and to design strategies for more effective integration and use/growth of human and social capitals. There is preliminary agreement on collaboration with the Orient-Institut in Istanbul and its director Dr. Claus Schönig, as well as with Drs. Rauf Karagezov and Javad Efendi in Baku. Funding will be requested from the Volkswagen-Stiftung. |
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Conferences organized (Dates, Name, Content, Participants,
Outputs) |
RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY & MODERNITY: ISLAM, CHRISTIANITY & DEMOCRATIC SECULARISM IN POST-SEPTEMBER 11 WORLD The conference is supposed to reflect the present-day globalization trends and forces leading to establishing universal system of political orientations and democratic values, on one hand, and the negative reaction to this trend, based on the claims for preserving cultural and political uniqueness. Such dualism often leads to the conflict between changes structured around pro-western orientation and Judo-Christian culture, and different cultural and confessional domains, in its worst realized through violence and organized terror. This takes place notwithstanding the fact that all world religions teach tolerance, kindness and humanism. The conflict became especially challenging after September 11 events, as at least on the surface it resembled civilizational clashes. Hence, revealing the real roots of the conflict, showing how it should be brought to civilized debate and continued in the format of constructive dialogue and mutual respect is among the most important issues of the contemporary world. We want to dedicate the conference both to the theoretical and global aspects of the problem, and to its relevance for the Caucasus of today, where religious and ethnic intolerance still pose grave problems that need innovative solutions. The Georgian government seems to be quite interested in supporting such a conference, and there was interest among the representatives and embassies of a number of states (USA, France, Iran), as well as among the Moslem leadership in the region. The organizational committee will be created soon to include its initiators (Lela Jejelava and Gocha Gunia of the Georgian Parliament, and IPS), and representatives of other interested parties (as, e.g. the Director of German Oriental Institute in Istanbul Dr. Claus Schönig). Center for Policy Studies, and the OSI in general are considering involvement in the project. |
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Workshops and seminars (Dates, Name, Content, Participants,
Outputs) |
CIVIL INITIATIEVES IN DECISION-MAKING: INDEPENDENT
POLICY CENTERS AND THINK TANKS IN THE TIME OF CHANGE We plan to organize this small conference mainly for the network of IPF fellows from different regions, in order to discuss the problems of increasing the role and efficacy of the think-tank type organizations in transitional societies, and to consider the best practices for bringing think tanks to the focus of public attention. The scale of the conference will depend on the availability of funds, and we intend to address the OSI East-East regional program in order to obtain core funding for at least inviting the Fellows from the neighbouring countries. National Soros foundations and the East-East program are supposed to fund the workshop. SCHOOL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT: SOUTH CAUCASUS The workshop is planned as a forum to discuss the regional cooperation in designing a concept for more effective intervention in the area of primary and secondary education. The lessons learned during the implementation of the World Bank sponsored educational reform in Azerbaijan and elsewhere will be considered as a starting point for discussion. Funding will be requested from the World Bank and the OSI East-East Program. |
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Dissemination activities (press, radio – TV – programs etc) |
Publications and Periodicals PERIODICAL: “AZRI DA SAKME” (CONCEPT AND ACTION,
PROVISIONAL TITLE) The quarterly journal will reflect interest of IPS in public policy matters and promote the development of this important field of study. The journal will cover a wide range of topics, including social and economic policies, international affairs, sociological studies, law, governance, human and minority rights, ethno-confessional issues and conflicts. The structure of the journal is determined by the type of materials presented, including policy papers, political, social and economic research, projects and programs related to our area of interest, relevant documents, description of the current research and achievements in the region, social initiatives; various discussion materials; conceptual blueprints, comments and analysis of important events, publication reviews and annotated bibliography, interviews with policy-makers and experts, relevant archival materials. The journal will be printed in Georgian with extensive English summaries, but its electronic version will be available on the web in both English and in Georgian, and possibly also on Russian. We plan to establish partnership for this reason with such centers and publications, as the Kennedy School of Government (Strengthening Democracy Program), Central Asia and Caucasus Institute at SAIS, Johns Hopkins University, Central Asia and Caucasus Center at the University of California, Berkeley, and analogous European centers, and also publications as e.g. as NISPAcee bulletin in Bratislava. MOVING TOWARD EUROPEAN STANDARDS: MONITORING THE
PROCESS OF GEORGIA’S ADJUSTMENT IPS intends to
study the Georgia’s motion toward the EU standards in various aspects of
societal transition, starting with the minority issue and following the
general line of the OSI EU Accession Monitoring Program. As a result, a
series of publications will be prepared to cover these issues. |
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Publications (please include articles as well as books and reports) |
As the IPS has only started its activities, below are the listed publications and the conference presentations by its founders during the last year: 1. George Tarkhan-Mouravi and Nana Sumbadze. Poverty and Anti-Poverty Measures in Georgia: Actors, Factors, Approaches and Trends, paper at the RC 19 Annual Conference 'Old and New Social Inequalities. What Challenges for Welfare States?', Oviedo, Spain, September 7-9, 2001 2. Nana Sumbadze and George Tarkhan-Mouravi. Repatriation and Adaptation of Georgia’s Meskhetians: Society and State in Supra-National Context. Paper presented at RC 19 conference of International Sociological Association "Old and New Social Inequalities and Social Policy" What Challenges for Welfare States?', Oviedo, Spain, September 7-9, 2001 3. Nana Sumbadze and George Tarkhan-Mouravi. Settlement Type of Repatriated Moslem Meskhetians and Attitudes of the Local Population toward Them, (with Nana Sumbadze), Proceedings of the 2nd Conference 'Problems of Repatriation, Rehabilitation and Integration of the Population, Deported in 1944 from Southern Georgia', Tbilisi, Georgia, December 19, 2001. pp. 241-248. (In Georgian and Russian) 4.
Sumbadze,
N. (2001). Social sciences in Georgia.
Paper presented at International Regional Conference on Social Sciences and
Humanities in the Southern Caucasus, Tbilisi, 9-10 April, 2001. 5.
Nana
Sumbadze and George
Tarkhan-Mouravi, Social capital and
adaptation of Meskhetian repatriates, Paper at a conference in Xanthi,
Greece, July 2001 6.
George
Tarkhan-Mouravi, Some aspects of
inter-ethnic relations in Georgia, Paper at the Conference
"Framework Convention on Minorities Rights and Georgian
Legislation", Tbilisi, 31
January – 1 February 2002 7. Nana Sumbadze and George Tarkhan-Mouravi, Democratic Value Orientations & Political Culture in Georgia:, Occasional Papers in Public Administration & Public Policy of the NISPAcee (The Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe), Bratislava, v. II, No 3, Summer 2001, pp. 3-43 8.
George
Tarkhan-Mouravi, “Tbilisi, Georgia: The
City and the Society in Transition”, paper at the "World Forum of
Urbanising World" - Scott Greer Sessions, Harriman Institute, Columbia
University, 5 – 7 June, 2001 9. George Tarkhan-Mouravi, The making and the re-making of the Georgian nation: challenges internal and external, paper at the 2001 World Convention of the Association for the Study of Nationalities, New York, Columbia University/Harriman Institute, 4-6 April 2001 10.
George
Tarkhan-Mouravi, National Culture of
Georgia, article in: Ember, Melvin and Carol R. Ember (eds.),
"Countries & Their Cultures", Macmillan Library Reference
Encyclopedia, Yale & New York, 2001 11.
George
Tarkhan-Mouravi, Brief History of
Georgia, article for the "Eastern Europe, Russia and Central
Asia" encyclopedia, Europa Publications, London, 2001 |
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Projects carried out in cooperation with other OSI related
policy centers network (Dates,
Title, Sponsor, Content, Outputs) |
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Other Activities not listed above |
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