George Melashvili is a Georgian public figure, political sciences scholar, and civic activist whose career integrates academic excellence with impactful civil society leadership. As the founder and president of the Europe-Georgia Institute, he has transformed a student initiative into a leading NGO dedicated to democratic reform and international security, launching landmark projects such as the annual Black Sea Security Conference and the youth-driven “Your Voice, Our Future” campaign. A graduate of the Free University of Tbilisi and Tbilisi State University, and now a PhD candidate at the University of Georgia, George’s scholarly work spans comparative politics and East Asian studies, enriched by prestigious international scholarships and fellowships. His contributions extend to influential lectures at top institutions and proactive engagement in global policy debates, making him a recognized voice in both academia and public discourse.
Academic and Professional Formation
George earned his Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the Free University of Tbilisi (2012–2016), where he was immersed in studies at the School of International Relations at the Free University . During his undergraduate years, he received a prestigious scholarship from the Academy of Korean Sciences to study South Korea’s economic development and democratic transition—a subject that would become a central theme in his later work. He continued his academic journey with a Master’s degree in Diplomacy and International Politics from Tbilisi State University (2017–2019) and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Georgia. His academic pursuits have been further enriched through specialized trainings in strategic political communication at the Theodor Heuss International Academy for Leadership and the National Development Course at the National Defense University in Taipei, Taiwan, as well as participation in programs at Haifa University and the Swedish Institute’s Summer Academy for Young Professionals.
Leadership in Civil Society and International Engagement
In 2015, George founded the Europe-Georgia Institute (EGI), transforming it from a student initiative into one of Georgia’s leading hybrid civil society organizations. Under his visionary leadership, EGI has grown to become a member of the European Liberal Forum and the founder of the annual Black Sea Security Conference, a key event addressing international security policy in the region. His strategic direction has also seen the successful implementation of transformative initiatives such as the “Your Voice, Our Future” campaign during the 2016 parliamentary elections. This groundbreaking campaign mobilized 500 volunteers across all 11 regions of Georgia, significantly boosting youth voter turnout by over 20%, and laid the groundwork for subsequent projects that distributed over 500 micro-grants and organized multiple summer and winter schools to empower young civic leaders.
George’s expertise has been recognized internationally. He has been a fellow with the German Marshall Fund’s Policy Designers Network since August 2020 and has served in roles that strengthen transatlantic relations—ranging from coordinating the Marshall Memorial Fellowship in Georgia to moderating panels on the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Eastern Partnership countries. His involvement with global organizations is further evidenced by his elected positions on the Global Member Advisory Board of Generation Democracy (the youth network of the International Republican Institute), as an Ambassador for the European Democracy Youth Network, and as a board member of the Sweden Alumni Network Georgia, where he was named one of 10 SI Changemakers among more than 15,000 alumni.
Academic Contributions and Public Discourse
A dedicated educator, George is an invited lecturer at the Free University of Tbilisi– teaching International Relations Theory and the Political History of East Asia. His teaching and public speaking extend internationally, with recent invited talks at Georgetown University and Northwestern University addressing topics such as information warfare and the pivotal nature of Georgia’s elections. His scholarly work includes authoring Korea: Success Story / Lessons for Georgia, the first academic book on Korea in the Georgian language, which explores Korea’s transformative journey and extracts policy lessons applicable to Georgia’s development. He has also contributed to research on the diffusion of authoritarian practices and is involved in upcoming projects like Taiwan: Island of Freedom.
Media appearances
George Melashvili is a regular media commentator on international affairs, democracy, and global security, engaging both academic and public audiences through television appearances and live discussions.
