Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development

The Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD) is a Tbilisi-based think-tank founded in 1992 and headed by the Georgian political scientist Ghia Nodia. It is one of the longer-established independent policy research organizations in the South Caucasus, working at the intersection of conflict studies, democratization, media development and local governance. CIPDD's main areas of research include conflict prevention and resolution (with particular emphasis on the Javakheti region), political parties, media — especially regional media — security studies and civil-military relations, local self-government development in Georgia, and religious minority and education issues. Beyond research, the institute runs numerous educational projects in fields such as religious education, conflict resolution, political system and party organization. A publishing division prepares and issues translated and original works; among its best-known publications is the Georgian translation of Francis Fukuyama's "The End of History and the Last Man" and the discussion series "Debates in Caucasus Institute." The institute also maintains a regional development and local self-government resource centre, and organizes conferences and clubs — for example a conference held in Florence in June 2026 with the European University Institute's School of Transnational Governance and the Guido Carli University of Rome on how Europe should border Russia, and a multi-season "Religions Club" for students. CIPDD works with partner organizations including the OSCE (including its Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, ODIHR), CordAid Foundation (Netherlands), Open Society Institute (USA) and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), along with other Western donors and NGOs. Most of its sponsors are Western governments (such as those of the U.S., UK and Austria), Western supranational organizations (NATO), government or government-funded agencies and programmes (USAID, National Endowment for Democracy, Latvian Institute for International Affairs) and private funds (George Soros' Open Society Foundations). As a non-profit policy institute rather than a commercial company, CIPDD's "offerings" are research, publications, educational programmes and convening capacity aimed at policymakers, civil society and the public in Georgia and the wider region.

The Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development was founded in Tbilisi in 1992, in the early years of Georgia's independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union. It established itself as one of the country's first independent policy research organizations, and is headed by the Georgian political scientist Ghia Nodia. Over the following decades CIPDD built a research agenda centered on the practical problems of state-building and democratization in Georgia and the wider South Caucasus. Its main areas of research came to include conflict prevention and resolution — with particular emphasis on the Javakheti region, an area of compact Armenian settlement in southern Georgia — political parties, media (especially regional media), security studies and civil-military relations, local self-government development in Georgia, and religious minority and education issues. Alongside research, the institute developed a substantial educational and publishing programme. Its publishing division prepared and issued both translated and original works, including the Georgian translation of Francis Fukuyama's "The End of History and the Last Man" and the discussion series "Debates in Caucasus Institute." Educational projects were implemented in fields such as religious education, conflict resolution, political system and party organization. The institute also operates a resource centre for regional development and local self-government, which makes reports and materials available to the public — for example the UNDP report "Democracy in Latin America." CIPDD's convening work has continued into the 2020s. On 25–26 June 2026 the institute, together with the School of Transnational Governance of the European University Institute and the Guido Carli University of Rome, held a conference in Florence titled "How should Europe border Russia? A local perspective from the borderland," with experts from EU and Eastern Partnership countries; short discussion essays were prepared by experts from Eastern Partnership countries ahead of the event. In August 2026 the second season of the institute's Religions Club concluded, with certificates presented to successful students at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and prizes awarded to three winners of the "Me and Religion" essay contest. The institute also marked its anniversary that month, describing its history as a space for people, ideas, discussions and differing perspectives rather than merely a set of dates and projects. Funding and partnerships have been predominantly Western. Partner organizations include the OSCE (including its Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, ODIHR), CordAid Foundation (Netherlands), Open Society Institute (USA) and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), among other Western donors and NGOs. Most sponsors are Western governments (such as those of the U.S., UK and Austria), Western supranational organizations (NATO), government or government-funded agencies and programmes (USAID, National Endowment for Democracy, Latvian Institute for International Affairs) and private funds (George Soros' Open Society Foundations).

• 2026

  Co-organizes Florence conference "How should Europe border Russia? A local perspective from the borderland" (25–26 June).

• 2026

  Second season of the Religions Club concludes; essay contest winners awarded (August).

• 1992

  CIPDD founded in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Independent, non-profit policy think-tank focused on peace, democracy and development in Georgia and the South Caucasus, funded mainly by Western governments, supranational bodies and private foundations.

• Georgian translation of Francis Fukuyama's "The End of History and the Last Man"

• "Debates in Caucasus Institute" discussion series

• Regional development and local self-government resource centre

• Religions Club educational programme

1. 1CIPDD official website (Georgian)cipdd.org
2. 2Wikidata: Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Developmentwikidata.org
3. 3Wikipedia: Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Developmenten.wikipedia.org