Why Joining NATO is Key to Georgia’s Survival No matter what outcomes Georgia will face in this eventful year, it should hold firmly to its chosen path toward Europe and the West. First and foremost, this means an increased commitment to move closer to NATO, the only military guarantee against expansionist Russia. By Giorgi Tskhadaia
The Influence of Neo-Liberal Policy on Labor Rights in Georgia Ensuring that workers are guaranteed basic labor rights is still a serious challenge in Georgia. The source of these problems is the state’s policy of inaction, which, on the one hand, is the result of the country’s transformation of its historical formations, and on the other hand, the realization by each of the Georgian governments that ensuring secure working conditions creates a space for people to think and act freely. By Anano Tsintsabadze
Geopolitics of South Caucasus: Georgia and Oil Prices Georgia's unique location at a strategically important crossroads makes it a country of key geopolitical interest to Russia, Turkey, USA and the EU. It is located in a region known for its volatility due to the existing ethnic, religious, political and military tensions after the collapse of the Soviet Union. By Manana Kochladze
Islamic State and Georgia's Muslim community The emergence of the Islamic State implies significant political and geographic transformation. Georgia as a territory is not in the spotlight of these changes unless appropriate conditions take shape, in particular, if they win a big number of supporters. By Ruslan Baramidze
How has civic activism changed local democracy? On April 23, 2015, Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office hosted public debates "How has civic activism changed local democracy?"
50 Women from Georgia In Georgia, there are many women who have created new things, who made discoveries, who brought about change and weren't afraid of alterations.
Rethinking Soviet Past Debating the totalitarian part of a country’s history is a precondition to shape the transition process dedicated to democratic values. To help overcome these legacies of the past, the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office (HBF) has a new initiative to develop new projects on rethinking the Soviet Past. To set up the projects, the HBF and partners are drawing on international expertise, in both coming to terms with a dictatorial past and in engaging the public with such difficult questions.
Politics and Culture in the Context of State-Society Relations How do the state and politics define the formulation of culture into one officially sanctioned “ideologized” direction, and what should state policy be to allow for an open, free and inclusive environment? Is there a “radical” change in Georgian culture, and is the preservation of existing cultural memory necessary for public development?
Georgia: Where Is It Going? The first speaker, a journalist and political analyst from Tbilisi, Mikhail Vignanski began by pointing out that the situation in Georgia is developing very rapidly and attracts a lot of attention.
Georgia: Between Modernity and the Middle Ages In the history of the fight for LBGT rights in the South Caucasus, 17 May 2012 is a milestone. On this internationally recognized day, a group of activists took to the streets in the center of the capital Tbilisi for the first time to demonstrate for the rights of sexual minorities. The campaign had been registered with the mayor’s office. Police were present to protect the demonstrators. It did not take long before their service was necessary. By Silvia Stöber