In Georgia, a severe democratic backsliding can be witnessed. This is evident, among other things, in the violent dissolution of demonstrations, repressive laws against the media and minorities, as well as the restrictions on the freedom of assembly and expression in recent months.
According to the Freedom House statistics (published in early 2024), Georgia has already recorded a decline of three points in democratic values, while Armenia and Moldova have gained one point. Given the current developments, it is likely that Georgia's democracy index will continue to decline. Nevertheless, the vast majority of the Georgian population still considers democracy to be the best form of government. Although many still see Georgia as a democratic country, nearly 90% of respondents acknowledge significant or at least smaller issues in its political development.
In various surveys, people often cite social and economic issues as the most important challenges, which is why democracy does not appear to be the top concern of the population. This is understandable, as existential economic worries are often felt as more pressing. However, it is crucial to emphasise the interplay between Europeanisation, democratisation, and socio-economic factors. A functioning democracy must be based on clear separation of powers and independent institutions. Public funds must be used for their dedicated purposes, and corruption must be effectively fought. This would strengthen trust in the state. The judiciary must operate independently and should not be influenced by individuals or interest groups. Only through such fundamental reforms would political and economic problems be resolved in the long term, and societal development be positively promoted. The success of the European integration process would be an important indicator of whether a country is truly implementing democratic reforms.
The connections between socio-economic challenges, democracy, and Europeanisation were also the focus of the Local Policy Dialogue in Zugdidi. On 18th March 2025, political analyst Schota Kakabadze (GIP) further explored these aspects in a radio debate on Radio Atinati.
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