Super Mich: The importance of TV Media for Democratic Deliberation and Civic Engagement: the case of Georgia

Lisa Basishvili

Georgia, a post-Soviet country, embarked after its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 on a path towards greater democratization and integration into Euro-Atlantic organizations. However, the country’s gradual decrease in democracy (5.93 out of 10 – democracy index) over the course of 10 years, has had a negative influence on the economy, civic freedoms, securities and citizens’ living conditions. In Georgia, the government, civil society, media, and the public should work hand in hand to strengthen the fledgling democracy that is still one of the best achievements after the breakup of the Soviet Union. But today’s picture of ongoing events depicts other realities. The media is biased; the government is losing its trust; the civil society keeps failing to empower people and the public is less civically active, showing their grievances towards democratically elected political elite. This research relies on a combination of research methods to address the following questions: how to help regular people become more empowered? how the public should deliberate and discuss social issues and community concerns that are the most problematic to them? what can people learn from TV media in order to be a more civically active citizen; and would they strengthen their democratic deliberation skills by watching non-framed TV content and educational programs?