Shota Gelovani
Shota
Gelovani
BIO
Shota is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Mannheim, specializing in internet and social media studies. Prior to his position at the Institute for Media and Communication Studies, he contributed significantly as a Doctoral Researcher at the Chair of Digital Governance at TU Munich. His doctoral thesis, entitled “Bridging Social Cleavages via (Social) Media? A Comparative Study of how Social Media influences Inter-Group Attitudes”, showcases his expertise in exploring the impact of social media on inter-group dynamics under different country contexts. He was engaged in the Horizon 2020 project titled “Observatory for Political Texts in European Democracies (OPTED)”, where he focused on citizen-produced political texts. Shota is committed to understanding the intricate nuances of political communication.
At THE NEW INSTITUTE, Shota is involved in the program Depolarizing Public Debates.
QUESTIONS
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What gives you hope?
Resistance in the face of oppression. -
How does change happen?
By acknowledging the need for change, overcoming fear, and taking a leap of faith. -
Why do you believe in truth?
Because it is liberating. Because without it, we are doomed to repeat mistakes. Because even if I did not believe in it, it would still be the truth.
PUBLICATIONS
Polarization on Social Media and Beyond: A Comparative Study of How Social Media Influence Inter-Group Attitudes, Technical University of Munich 2023
Ethnocentrism, Inter-Ethnic Contact and Social Media Platforms: Evidence from Three Western Democracies,(with Theocharis Y, Koc-Michalska K, Bimber B.); manuscript submitted for publication, 2023
Methodologic and Theoretical Approaches to Studying Citizen Produced Political Text, (with Theocharis Y, Koc-Michalska K, Kalsner B, Haraldsson A), presented at COMPTEXT, 2022