University students, election commission staff and journalists in Georgia took part in training sessions on conducting political debates.
For locals and visitors alike, “politics” can at times seem like the vernacular of Georgia’s ever-bustling capital, Tbilisi.
With elections on the horizon, political debate is sure to heat up, be it in the halls of parliament, universities or on Rustaveli Avenue — a broad, vibrant street stretching through central Tbilisi.
In an effort to cultivate political debate and civil discourse in Georgia, IFES’ Senior Debates Advisor Dr. Diana Carlin provided training to Georgia’s Central Election Commission (CEC), the Center for Electoral Systems Development Reforms and Trainings (Training Center), university students and media outlets.
Carlin conducted a training-of-trainers (ToT) session from December 14 to December 22, 2011, for CEC Training Center staff on organizing and conducting political debates with university students. The ToT covered historical and contemporary perspectives of formal debate, the basic structure and essence of debating and an overview of various debate formats. The session also highlighted the importance of debate as a source of voter information.
Following the ToT, the Training Center staff organized a mock debate for students on December 21. The event brought together CEC members and approximately 50 students from three Georgian universities. Two five-member teams composed of students and alumni from Caucasus University debated for one hour on whether participation in elections is an obligation or a right.
Carlin also conducted training on political debates for leading journalists from the Georgian Public Broadcaster, TV Kavkasia, Studio Re, Channel 25 and Gurjaani TV. During the half-day training on covering and moderating debates, Carlin shared her extensive experience with the journalists, highlighting fundamental aspects of political debates, negotiating with debate participants, prepping debate participants and formulating debate questions.
Ahead of the October 2012 parliamentary elections, the Training Center will work closely with students from 14 universities to organize mock debates on topics related to government, human rights and citizen participation in public life.