Beyond the protests: Understanding Georgia's civic paradox

August 14, 2025

The article examines how thousands of Georgians have been participating in leaderless, self-organized pro-EU protests in Tbilisi since November 2024. Despite high levels of informal civic engagement across Georgia, with 74% of citizens helping friends with household chores and 52% donating to charity, formal participation in democratic organizations remains surprisingly low at just 8%. This disconnect stems from an institutional mismatch between how Georgians traditionally cooperate through informal networks based on personal trust and how formal civil society organizations operate.

Who is affected

Georgian citizens, particularly young, educated Tbilisi residents who make up most of the protesters
The broader Georgian population that supports EU integration but isn't actively participating in formal democratic organizing
Informal networks of Georgians who engage in mutual assistance and community support
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that struggle to connect with traditional Georgian cooperation patterns
Recipients of services from organizations like the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (approximately 50,000 people annually)

What action is being taken

Thousands of Georgians are gathering nightly on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi for pro-EU protests
Political parties and NGOs are sharing information and organizing events related to the protests
The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association is providing free legal aid to approximately 50,000 people annually through offices in Tbilisi and seven other towns
The digital platform Daitove is mobilizing 250,000 people to provide food, funds, and transportation for protesters through peer-to-peer networks
The current government is restricting organizing space through laws like the "foreign agents" legislation

Why it matters

The disconnect between informal civic energy and formal democratic participation threatens Georgia's democratic future
The gap reveals a deeper issue in Georgian society regarding how citizens engage with democratic institutions
Understanding these dynamics is particularly urgent given Georgia's drift toward authoritarianism
The success of bridging informal networks with formal institutions could determine whether Georgia maintains its democratic trajectory
The Georgian experience offers broader lessons for democracies worldwide about aligning institutions with natural patterns of cooperation and trust-building

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices