03. November 2022 | 09:30 - 18:00 Uhr | Universitätsclub Konviktstraße 9, 53113 Bonn

The development of participatory democracy as well as strengthening the role of civil society actors in political decision-making processes are important objectives of the European democracy promotion strategy in the eastern neighbourhood. However, European political dialogue with post-Soviet countries has not been easy. European engagement has been made difficult by Russian conduct, as Moscow perceives the EU’s policies in its near abroad as a threat to its sphere of influence. The current peak of this ideological collision is the war in Ukraine with which Russia intends to block democratic movements in the neighbourhood. Despite of Russia’s aggressive policy and growing security threats some eastern partner countries remain true to the western liberal policy course.

Armenia and Georgia belong to these countries, where the emergence of pluralistic forces and the consolidation of active civil society became possible in recent years. However, there are still various institutional and organizational barriers that do not allow different civil society actors in Armenia and Georgia to become key factors in the promotion of democracy.

The aim of the workshop is to promote an exchange of views and experiences between civil society stakeholders from Armenia and Georgia as well as some experts from Poland and Germany. In the light of defective constitutional practice and restricted inclusion of the civil society in political processes in both countries, we intend to create a space for a dialogue between scientists, NGO representatives and the media in order to discuss current challenges of demoratic transformation in both countries and to find new mechanisms for better and succesfull cooperation with the EU.

If you are interested in participating in the international workshop, please send a short email to sekretariat.hilz@uni-bonn.de by 26 October. 

Session I: Current Challenges of European Democracy Promotion in Armenia and Georgia (09:30 - 11:00 Uhr)

Discussion:

Dr. hab. Rafal Ulatowski

University Warsaw 

Dr. Tevan Poghosyan

Executive Director of International Center for Human Development, Former Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Armenia

Prof. Dr. Kornely Kakachia

Director of Georgian Institute of Politics

Moderation:

Prof. Dr. Wolfram Hilz – University of Bonn

Session II : Political Transition and the Dilemma of Civil Society (11:15 - 12.30 Uhr)

Discussion:

Dr. Galina Selivanova

FIW, University of Bonn

Gayane Abrahamyan 

President of For Equal Rights NGO, former deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia 

Prof. Dr. Archil Abashidze 

Ilia State University

Moderation:

Christopher Wingens, M.A. 

German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)

Session III : The Deliberative Potential of Political Discussion. The Role of Media (14:00 - 15:15 Uhr)

Discussion:

Dr. Alicje Waszkiewicz-Raviv 

Faculty of Journalism, Information and Book Studies University of Warsaw, Department of social communiation and PR 

Sara Khojoyan

Journalist, Bloomberg Armenien, Factor TV 

 Nino Gelashvili

Senior Editor of Tbilisi Bureau, RFE/RL Georgian Service

Moderation:

Jacqueline Götze, M.A. 

German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)

Session IV : The Way of Armenian and Georgian Democracy in the Context of the Regional Conflicts (15:45 - 17:00 Uhr)

Discussion:

Dr. Shushanik Minasyan

University of Bonn

Tamar Gvaramadze

First Deputy Public Defender of Georgia 

Arsen Kharatyan

Former advisor to Prime Minister Pashinyan on Foreign Affairs, Voice of America's Armenian service in Washington DC 

Moderation:

Prof. Dr. Andreas Heinemann-Grüder

BICC/University of Bonn

Concluding Discussion: The Future of Democratic Transition in Armenia and Georgia in the Regional Context (Black Sea Region) (17:00 - 18:00 Uhr)

Discussion:

Dr. Hans-Joachim Spanger

Peace Research Institute Frankfurt 

Prof. Davit Hovhannisyan

Executive Director of the Center for Culture and Civilization Studies Foundation Professor, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador 

Prof. Dr. Ghia Nodia

Ilia State University, Former Minister of Education und Science of Georgia  

Moderation:

Dr. Shushanik Minasyan

University of Bonn

The event is sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) on behalf of the Federal Foreign Office, Berlin.

If you are interested in participating in the international workshop, please send a short email to sekretariat.hilz@uni-bonn.de by 26 October.