History of the Caucasus - A Discourse on Georgia and WESTERNIZATION

According to the Georgian political scientist Ghia Nodia “Georgian political development during its fight for independence and its attempt to maintain its independence despite interference by Russia are not understandable without an appreciation of Georgia’s orientation to the west."

The Origins of Georgia’s “Pro Western Orientation article can be found here

Nodia’s article is written in 1996. Since then Georgia’s pro western orientation has become even more pronounced. Here is an interview with President Micheil Saakashvili (2004-2013) on CNN 8 august 2008, during Russia’s militarily intervention in Georgia.

Since independence Georgia has been the most Western-oriented of all the three South Caucasian states. President Eduard Shevardnadze (1995-2003) sought to obtain as close as possible cooperation with the West and membership for Georgia in international organizations, including NATO.

Under president Micheil Saakashvili Georgia’s orientation towards the West became even more pronounced. In his speech at his inauguration as (re-elected) president 2008, Saakashvili stated: “Georgia is forever yoked to Europe. We are joined by a common and unbreakable bond - one based on culture - on our shared history and identity - and on a common set of values that has at its heart, the celebration of peace, and the establishment of fair and prosperous societies. Together, with our partners in the European Union we will continue to strengthen these historic ties. During this election, the people of Georgia demonstrated their clear and unequivocal sentiments about Georgia's Euro-Atlantic destiny.

Under Saakashvili Georgia proclaimed itself an ally of USA, demonstrating its commitment by cooperation with USA and NATO in military operations such as participation in the US led military coalition in Iraq and provision of Georgian troops to NATO’s KFOR force in Kosovo. Symbolically expressing Georgia’s cultural belonging and foreign policy alignment President Saakashvili even named the highway to the international airport in Tbilisi “George W. Bush Boulevard”.

In the interview to CNN (and several other instances of official communication mediated through international media during the 2008 Russian intervention) Georgia is linked to western values such as democracy, freedom, respect for international norms and commitment to international cooperation. In the interview President Saakashvili is flanked by the Georgian and the EU flag, symbolizing Georgia’s connection with Europe, and by extension, the West.

While in the official Russian discourse the intervention was cast as a humanitarian action aimed at rescuing the South Ossetian people from Georgian assaults, in the Georgian official discourse the intervention was cast as Russian aggression and infringement on Georgia’s sovereignty. In the interview on CNN president Saakashvili states: “My country is in self-defence with Russia against Russian aggression....….at 24 AM last night Russian APCs started to cross into Georgia territory and there we had to act, there we had to fire back the artillery. There we had to take measures, because it was a clear cut case of intervention”

Sovereignty discourses emphasize universal principles on the inviolability of state borders, respect for the territorial integrity of states and non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states. Using such discourse Saakashvili constructs Russia as a dangerous state, uncommitted to the principles and norms held in respect by all civilized nations. By contrast, Georgia is constructed as a country resisting infringements not only on its territorial integrity, but also on a core principle in international relations.

While Georgia is presented as a country belonging to the western, democratic world, Russia is cast as the opposite to the West. “.....President Putin in the past and now prime minister has many times told me that it is totally unacceptable for him not only my close relationship with the United States and the West in general, but the political system Georgia has opted for: democracy, freedom..… We are under attack because we wanted to be close to the west and go into the West, and go where we belong, into the European fold”.

The threat against Georgia is framed as a threat against western values and norms: "I think we are in the same situation as Finland was in 1939 when Stalin’s brutal dictatorship attacked because it wanted a piece of Finnish territory, we are in the same situation as Afghanistan in 1979…..it looks like the adventures are back and looks like the peace is endangered again and human rights and freedom is in great danger again”.

Saakashvili appeals to USA and Europe, that is, to the countries Georgia, using Ghia Nodia’s expression, has chosen as patrons - “Wake up. Wake up..…It’s not about Georgia. It’s about the basic values the West has, the basic values the U.S has always preached for us.…..if the Americans and European’s don’t stand up for their own values, for their own principles, then those principles and values will be in danger today in Georgia, tomorrow elsewhere”.

The countries Georgia has sought protection from proved, however, unable to help. EU's than Chairman, Nicolaz Sarkozy, presenting a six point proposal, terminated the war through diplomacy. Georgia lost the war. Despite protests from USA and the deployment of EU observers - Russia, in defiance of the EU mediated agreement, removed its forces only from Georgia proper, not from South Ossetia. Russia even recognized South Ossetia - and Abkhazia- as independent states. Hence, this conflict like Nagorno-Karabakh represents a conflict over territorial integrity in which larger macro level State actors continue to indirectly influence outcomes irrespective of the local domestic issues at play.