The article discusses the situation in Georgia, a country that has faced significant challenges to its democracy. Despite the government’s authoritarian tendencies and external funding vulnerabilities, Georgian society remains resilient and determined to defend its freedom.
Key points:
* Georgia was a democracy for 30 years, enjoying freedoms like speech, arts, and movement.
* The country maintained psychological independence even under Soviet rule, with its own language and culture.
* Georgian Dream lacks an ideology, making long-term authoritarian consolidation questionable.
* Losing US funding has forced Georgian civil society to learn to survive independently, with crowdfunding becoming a viable option.
* Grassroots movements are growing, including big business and government employees risking everything to join the protests.
* The crisis in Georgia reflects a global phenomenon where democracies have allowed “the spirit of non-freedom” to spread.
* Warning signs include small compromises, external funding vulnerabilities, strategic communication training against democracy, media capture, and civil society taking freedom for granted.
* Georgian democracy’s collapse is seen as a wake-up call for other societies to learn from its mistakes.
Overall, the article suggests that Georgia’s struggle for democracy serves as a warning to other democracies about the importance of maintaining genuine grassroots strength and not relying on external funding. The outcome will determine not just Georgia’s fate but also offer crucial lessons for every democracy grappling with its own “spirit of non-freedom.”
