Contemporary Georgian society is divided over questions of politics, religion, and ethnic identity. If the country is to make progress in building a European state, careful analysis and frank discussion of the many social and political issues that polarize Georgians are essential.
The Future of Georgia project, run jointly by Carnegie Europe and the Levan Mikeladze Foundation and supported by the Government Offices of Sweden and the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shines a light on these contentious issues and seeks to foster dialogue among diverse groups through publications and policy briefings, as well as public dialogue events across Georgia.
Dimitri Tsikitishvili will moderate a discussion on Georgia's political chasm featuring Jennifer McCoy, Thomas de Waal, and Archil Gegeshidze, authors of “Divided Georgia: A Hostage to Polarization.”
Georgia’s cultural clashes have exacerbated the country's political polarization. These divisions challenge the country’s democratic processes and relations with Western partners.
Georgia’s Orthodox Church was critical to the formation of the country’s identity and restoration of lost statehood in the 1990s. Today, Georgia must reconcile its conservative views with its ambitions for European integration.
Ethno-nationalist tendencies dating back to the Soviet period have alienated Georgia’s ethnic minority groups. Integrating them into the country’s political, economic, and cultural life is essential for successful nation-building in Georgia.
Divisive public discourse in Georgia about the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia has hurt broader peacebuilding prospects and obscured the issues faced by the communities in these territories.
Georgians’ collective memory has been shaped by pride in their struggle for independence since 1989 and fear of existential threats. This narrative has overshadowed other domestic challenges and increased Georgia’s reliance on individual leaders.
Is Georgia still on the European track? Carnegie Europe’s Thomas de Waal will host an event to discuss the future of Georgia and what more can be done to bridge the country’s societal divisions.
To better understand the future of Georgia, the Caucasus Research Resource Center surveyed 1928 respondents on ethnic tolerance and identity, the role of the Georgian Orthodox Church in society, attitudes toward the recent past, and views of the West.
Despite its ambitions, modern Georgia continues to wait for Europe’s full embrace. To turn romantic notions into more concrete realities, the next generation of Georgians must carve out a special place for themselves on the margins of Europe.