A deferred dream of the West, or which way is Georgia heading?

Abstract

Georgia is a country created as a consequence of the fall of the Soviet Union. Like other countries
of this bloc, since the moment of regaining independence, Georgia still encounters problems that are
a result of difficult geopolitical location and relentless Russian pretensions in this region. Intemperate
gestures of the Russian Federation, in conjunction with the actions of ruling party, the Georgian Dream,
make Georgia a state fluctuating between the return to the Russian area of influence and rapprochement
with the Western world and values. The purpose of this article is to show in which direction the
Georgian foreign policy is heading, and what are the means of prosecution power by the government.
Georgia as an independent country, since 1991, has struggled with various internal, external and image
problems. The first Presidents of the republic were focusing on stabilization of internal issues, what
was happening in a painfully slow and often incapable way. Moreover, they were struggling with the
Soviet Union heritage, and Russian pression that was preventing them from taking their own direction
of foreign policy. Georgia in years 1991-2003 is described as a failed state due to chronic crises and
government inefficiency. The events that occurred in 2003 went down in history as the Rose Revolution.
Social discontent sparked protests on Georgian streets, where the citizens manifested their objection to
President Eduard Shevardnadze and multiple anomalies during the parliamentary elections. Peaceful
protests led the head of state to step down and be replaced by Mikheil Saakashvili. The Rose Revolution
began a new phase of Georgian politics. The new President made an attempt to implement a string of
reforms, and orient Georgian policy on the pro-Western course. These actions brought the country
many benefits. During the Saakashvili’s presidency, the Russo-Georgian war happened, which confirmed
that Russia will not reconcile itself to losing its influence in this region, and even try to increase it.
The President’s image was undermined in association with penitentiary system scandals. The society’s
exhaustion caused by Saakashvili and his party, the United National Movement, governance triggered
the next serious changes. In 2012, the Georgian Dream, a party created by Bidzina Ivanishvili, won
the parliamentary elections. Since this moment Georgia has fluctuated between Russia and the West.
The politicians of governing for years GD bother to maintain proper relations with Russia, simultaneously
creating the pretenses of willingness to continue the pro-Western course. The policymakers of
Georgian state notoriously break democracy standards. The following Georgian elections seemed to
depart from those standards. Georgia is sitting on a fence. Future is unknown, and the politicians of
GD are pushing country further away from accession to the UE and NATO. That policy enrages the
citizens and evokes anxiety in majority of international community. What will be the fate of Georgia?
Will the country return on the way of rapprochement with the West, or reorient to Russia? The answer
to those questions will be known in close future.