Working Paper, May 2021 / #13

Similar to other European countries, Georgia has seen a rise in far-right movements with a specific political agenda. Three far-right political parties, characterized by public demonstrations and radicalism, are particularly similar in rhetoric and messaging. Their main messages are built on the narrative of defending the Georgian nation from degradation and threats to Christianity. (more…)

Working Paper, April 2021 / #14

A draft law on the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Agency was submitted to the Parliament of Georgia in September 2020. In cooperation with Transparency International Georgia, the bill was drafted by five independent MPs in response to the challenge of political corruption in Georgia. The bill’s envision of the agency model draws on the experience of Singapore, Slovenia, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Consequently, it is presented as an effective mechanism to cope (more…)

Working Paper, April 2021 / #15

This paper analyzes the patterns of media coverage of Georgian ultranationalist groups and their discourse as covered by the three Georgian mainstream TV channels: Rustavi2, Imedi TV, and the 1^st Channel of the Georgian Public Broadcaster. It examines whether and how much the ultranationalist narratives penetrate media discourse in Georgia, whether the media gives space to the counter arguments to ultra-nationalism, and who are the actors who set the discursive agenda around these issues. (more…)

Working Paper, March 2021 / #12

The purpose of this research is to cast some light on the formation and maintenance of the governmental entities, which have been displaced from Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, the two breakaway regions of Georgia. This research contains a detailed study of the history, structure, and function of these entities, which continue their activities in displacement: the Government of Abkhazia, the Supreme Council of Abkhazia, and the Administration of South Ossetia. (more…)

Lozka Katsiaryna

Working Paper, November 2020 / #11

Over the last two decades the European Union (EU) has been criticised for its rather limited role as a security actor in the conflicts in its Eastern neighbourhood, prioritizing the areas of “low politics” (Popescu 2010). It has partly been explained by the intergovernmental foreign policy and lack of a united stand versus Moscow. How do these constraints impact EU activities as a mediator and what role does the EU play in conflict mediation? (more…)

Kornely Kakachia and Bidzina Lebanidze

Originally published by EU-LISTCO

This paper explores the extent to which global and diffuse risks impact the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries of the EU’s Eastern neighbourhood and identifies tipping points at which risks can turn into immediate threats for the EaP countries, with implications for the EU. We apply five major risk categories to the EaP area that cover the majority of global and diffuse risks and suggest their prioritization based on temporality, probability of occurrence, and potential multiplication effects. (more…)

Irakli Sirbiladze
August 2019 / Issue #10

Mariam Grigalashvili

The Treaty on Open Skies (OS) has been a source of tension between Russia and Georgia since 2010. While the issue is serious, the Treaty on Open Skies and the problems related to it are rarely publicly discussed since the agreement is confidential and very technical. It is worth noting that, in recent years, the Russian media has been actively discussing violations of the terms of the agreement, however, particularly allegations that Georgia has violated and politicised it.

The main problem started in 2010 when Russia requested a 10-km restriction at the Abkhaz section of Georgian –Russian state border. (more…)

Irakli Jgharkava

This research paper tackles one of the most controversial issues in Georgian society – the relationship between Church and State. Following a recent statement by the prime minister of Georgia that questioned the “classical understanding” and utility of secularism in the Georgian context, a unique Georgian model of secularism has been put forth, resulting in a stir both within and beyond Georgia’s borders. The aim of this paper is to explore whether realization of this “unique” Georgian model of secularism poses any threat to the country’s European integration aspirations.

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Elene Panchulidze
June 2017 / Issue #5

The use of Russian Soft Power and propaganda for the purpose of realizing foreign policy objectiveshas become increasingly noticeable in different parts of the world. Russian Soft Power in line with state-developed and controlled propaganda is commonly used to create and distribute narratives supporting the current regime in the Kremlin. (more…)