Mikheil Kechaqmadze

I am a DPhil student in Politics at Linacre College, where I research issues related to domestic and international election observation in Russia and in the wider post-Soviet region. Specifically, my study aims to enhance the understanding of the causes and mechanisms of the contestation over domestic and international election observation between Russia and national non-governmental, intergovernmental and international nonprofit organisations and Western states.

Prior to commencing my doctorate I obtained a Master of Public Policy (MPP) at Georgia State University (Atlanta, USA) and a Master of Arts (MA) in Political Science from Central European University (Budapest, Hungary). I worked for several international organisations, including the Council of Europe (CoE) and National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), as well as for Georgian non-governmental organisations such as the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED).

Research

My research interests include:

• Democracy and Democratic Theory,

• Elections and electoral politics,

• Comparative Politics and Government,

• Democracy and Democratisation,

• Elections

• Election observation

Teaching

I have taught classes on democratisation at Tbilisi State University, Georgia.

Awards

• 2017 International Doctoral Program Scholarship, International Education Center (Tbilisi, Georgia)

• 2010 Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Programme, US State Department Funded Exchange Programme (USA)

• 2010 Legislative Fellowship Programme, US State Department Funded Exchange Programme (USA)

• 2006 Central European University Master's Scholarship (Hungary)

• 2004 Contemporary Issues Fellowship Programme, US State Department Funded Exchange Programme (USA)

• 2002 Community Connections Programme,US State Department Funded Exchange Programme (USA)