Democracy, Modernity, and Identity in Georgia: Power Change in Georgia and Its Aftermath

Professor Ghia Nodia
Ilia State University, Georgia
Erasmus Mundus IMRCEES Visiting Scholar

5.30pm (tea and coffee from 5pm), Room 916, Adam Smith Building

The topic of democratization is often seen in a rather narrow way of formal institutional change, or successful resistance against autocratic regimes. Georgia’s case is one of many that calls for transcending these conceptual limitations. The story of political developments of Georgia during the last twenty years can be framed as that of serial failing democratizations; hence, one research question may be why Georgia keeps failing, and another – why it keeps trying. In trying to analyze causes of this, I will revisit the concepts of modernisational pre-requisites of democracy, (semi-)autocratic modernization, but also link democracy project to national identity.

In terms of time, presentation will focus on the results of the 9-year rule of the National Movement led by Mikheil Saakashvili – the most successful Georgian government to date, but also rather controversial and divisive one. I will also assess what the precedent of the first change of power through democratic elections implies for Georgia’s political development.

All welcome.

The CEES West Coast Seminar Series is supported by the MacFie Bequest, named after Professor Alec MacFie, Adam Smith Professor of Political Economy at the University from 1945 to 1958. 

Enquiries: Ammon.Cheskin@glasgow.ac.uk, +44 (0)141 330 2845/5585

First published: 13 September 2012

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