Ghia Nodia is professor of politics at Ilia State University, and a scholar and adviser of the Caucasus Institute of Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD) in Tbilisi. He was appointed minister of education and science of the Republic of Georgia on 31 January 2008, and served for a year in this post. His books include (with Ålvaro Pinto Scholtbach) The Political Landscape of Georgia: Political Parties: Achievements, Challenges, and Prospects (University of Chicago Press, 2007).