'Challenges and Opportunities'
Ohio Wesleyan Senior Participates in 2024 Athens Democracy Forum in Greece
Name: Giorgi Bediashvili '25
Hometown: Tbilisi, Georgia
High School: Independent Secular Gymnasium "Shavnabada"
Majors: Politics & Government and Data Analytics (Bachelor of Arts); Quantitative Economics (Bachelor of Science)
OWU Connection Experience: Participating in the Athens Democracy Forum, organized by The Democracy and Culture Foundation and held in association with The New York Times
Bediashvili traveled to Greece for a week this fall to participate in the Athens Democracy Forum. He was nominated by Ohio Wesleyan for the experience and selected to attend by the Great Lakes Colleges Association from a pool of candidates nominated by its 13 member schools.
According to forum organizers: "We called on the brightest – and often youngest – minds in academia, politics, business and civil society to come up with a prescription for a new breed of democracy, one that recognizes that only bold action will have a chance against malignant threats."
From the Podium
Following an Oct. 1 panel discussion on "Reimagining the Building Blocks of Democracy," Bediashvili was selected to speak as part of a follow-up "Youth Hack" of the topic. (His remarks begin at 43:25.)
"As part of my speech, I provided my opinion regarding compulsory voting and its effect on the younger generation while also discussing some other short-term and long-term strategies that could be implemented to engage youth in democratic processes like elections and everyday political life," Bediashvili said. (Read his statement.)
The forum highlighted the importance of examining problems from multiple perspectives and engaging in meaningful dialogues with all actors to gain a more comprehensive understanding.
'Meaningful Dialogues'
"Attending the Athens Democracy Forum was a great experience that deepened my understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing democracy on a global scale. As someone with a strong interest in international development and economics, I found it important to explore the evolving dynamics of democratic processes and to recognize that these issues are often far more complex than they initially appear.
"The forum highlighted the importance of examining problems from multiple perspectives and engaging in meaningful dialogues with all actors to gain a more comprehensive understanding. Additionally, the forum offered a unique opportunity to engage and interact with individuals working on these critical issues worldwide."
'An Impressive Lineup'
"One of the panel discussions I particularly enjoyed was 'Rethinking Journalism: A Crisis of Confidence'. The panel featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including Stephen Dunbar-Johnson, president, International, for The New York Times Company; Persiana Aksentieva, youth fellow at the International Youth Think Tank; Dr. Battinto L. Batts, Jr., dean of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University; and Camille Grenier, executive director of the Forum on Information and Democracy.
"The discussion, moderated by Pamela Paul, a columnist at The New York Times, addressed how journalists can rebuild public trust in an era when truth itself is increasingly contested. The panelists explored findings from the latest Digital News Report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, which revealed that only 40 percent of the public trusts most news most of the time, while 39 percent actively avoid it. The panelists addressed the urgency of rethinking journalism to meet the challenges of misinformation, polarization, and declining public confidence."
My Favorite Moment
"My favorite moment of the experience was the second day of the forum held at the historic Stoa of Attalos in Athens, Greece. The setting itself, full of history, was inspiring. The day was filled with opening remarks by the President of the Hellenic Republic (Greece), followed by an insightful analysis of the U.S. elections as a case study and an engaging panel discussion on the State of Democracy and Technology. The combination of thought-provoking dialogue and the symbolic location made it an unforgettable experience."
My Campus Involvement
"Last year, I was elected and served as the vice president of WCSA (Student Government). In this role, I represented the student body and advocated for their needs. Additionally, I'm the co-chair of the Economics and Business Student Board and serve as a member of the Politics & Government Student Board."
My Plans After Graduation
"I plan to pursue a career in international development with a concentration in international relations and economics. Additionally, I plan to pursue graduate studies that will advance my skill set. … I'm really excited to see what the future holds for me."