Publication

This report analyzes the conditions relevant to democratic consolidation in Georgia. The author argues that the conditions for Georgia’s democratization process have been very difficult in that the existence of two secession conflicts and the activities of violent transnational non-state actors undermine the territorial integrity of the state. Furthermore, corruption and systemic clientelism and the lack of legitimate institutions representing all levels and groups of society create an instable political system. The paper concludes that without the combined efforts and political will of the international community, Russia, the new ruling elites in Georgia and the de-facto governments in Sokhumi and Tskhinvali, conditions in Georgia will remain obstructive to democratic consolidation.