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Ghia Nodia

Also by Ghia Nodia

October 19, 2011
Will This Billionaire Be Good For Georgian Democracy?

If the elevation of political competition in Georgia is completely dependent on the personal caprice of an eccentric billionaire who wants to buy power for money and whose real motives are obscured by fog, then it is far from clear that this development will elevate the quality of Georgia's democracy.
August 23, 2011
The Fall Of Robert Sturua Sets A New Standard In Georgian Public Life

If in a Western democracy a public figure who receives his salary courtesy of the taxpayer said something similar to recent xenophobic comments by theater director Robert Sturua, he would not remain in office for very long.
August 10, 2011
No New Russia-Georgia War, But Nothing Can Be Ruled Out

The most important event marking the third anniversary of the Russian-Georgian war was a TV interview by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. His remarks were unequivocally taken in Tbilisi to mean that the cold war between the two countries is not over and there is no sign that it will end soon.
July 27, 2011
Searching For The Truth In Georgia's Spy Cases

Professor Ghia Nodia asks what the photographers' case tells us about the state of Georgian democracy.
March 10, 2011
Georgian Opposition Girds For 'Revolution,' But Is The Time Right?

It appears that Georgia is beginning to react to the revolutions in the Arab world. The departure of Hosni Mubarak is seen as analogous to the departure of Eduard Shevardnadze in 2003. But in the eyes of Georgia's radical opposition, the dictator Mubarak is more like the dictator Mikheil Saakashvili.
February 20, 2011
Rift Opens In Georgia Between The Church And State

Georgia's plans with Turkey to sign an accord preserving religious heritage sites in the two countries has exposed a growing rift between the government and the Orthodox Church.
January 26, 2011
Why Is Georgia So Quiet About Tunisia’s Revolution?

When I asked several Georgian politicians from the ruling party what the country’s position on the recent events in Tunisia is, they were caught by surprise. It is worth saying a few things about this Georgian indifference to the so-called Jasmine Revolution.
December 20, 2010
Watching WikiLeaks' 'Cablegate' From Tbilisi

In the end, opines Ghia Nodia, the cries to the effect that bold individuals have exposed repression and dark deeds by the mighty ring hollow.
November 19, 2010
Georgia Walks A Line Between Washington And Tehran

It's unlikely that the warming of Georgia's relations with Iran will lead to a cooling of relations with the United States or Europe. The real danger is that politicians who are already bothered by Georgia's policies and problems or who understand them poorly will be handed another bone to chew.
November 02, 2010
What Is Georgia’s Strategy In The North Caucasus?

What is the point of Georgia’s new visa-free policy in the North Caucasus? Is the point, as critics suggest, that Saakashvili wants to annoy Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin without giving much thought to the consequences? Or is this a more thought-out, long-term strategy?
October 19, 2010
Georgia Gets A More Democratic Constitution, Though The Process Is Not Perfect

Ghia Nodia says opinions about amendments to Georgia's constitution proceed from two radically opposed points of view -- one side proceeding from a consideration of the political future of President Mikheil Saakashvili and the other looking at the content of the changes themselves.
September 17, 2010
What Does 'Confederation' Mean In The South Caucasus?

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has mentioned the idea of a "confederation" with Azerbaijan. The phrase quickly got people wondering what exactly the president had in mind.
August 31, 2010
Is There A Foundation For Peace Between Russia And Georgia?

In order even to begin thinking about possible solutions, one must first imagine a Russia that is capable of genuinely recognizing Georgia's right to choose its own government and its own political course. But no such Russia is anywhere in sight.
August 06, 2010
The Little War That Actually Didn't Shake The World

What were the results of the Russia-Georgia war of early August 2008? At first it seemed as if the war would overturn everything in the region and create a new global reality. But nothing of the sort actually happened.
July 22, 2010
Georgia Coming Back In From The Cold

Georgia's opponents (or the opponents of the current government) have been fond of saying that the country is isolated and the West no longer supports us. After the diplomatic parade this month, it's much harder to make this argument.
July 01, 2010
Georgia’s Long Farewell To Stalin

On the night of June 25, the monument to Josef Stalin in the city of Gori was removed. And where the statue previously stood, authorities will erect a memorial to the victims of Russian aggression and Soviet repression. The symbolism of these actions is completely obvious. But if this is all there is to it, then why was the operation carried out at night amid heightened security?
June 02, 2010
Unusually Quiet Elections Mark End Of Revolutionary Cycle In Georgia

Georgia's May 30 municipal elections marked the end of a political cycle that began in the fall of 2007, when the country's opposition collectively decided that it needed to mobilize popular discontent to unseat President Mikheil Saakashvili.
May 20, 2010
Georgia And The Geopolitics Of Religious Extremism

With municipal elections approaching, religious extremism has become the main topic of discussion in Georgia. But it's as yet unclear how far the authorities will go in making concessions to the church, as the pro-Orthodox, anti-Western camp is widely suspected of sympathizing with Moscow.
May 06, 2010
Inside The World of Georgia's 'Partly Free' Press

Freedom House recently rated the Georgian media as "partly free," needing just a couple more points in order to slip into the shameful "not free" category. Since Georgia claims to be an essentially European democracy (albeit it with some shortcomings), the "partly free" rating is completely unacceptable.
April 13, 2010
Georgia Gets A Timely -- And Welcome -- Phone Call

Washington appears to counter messages sent by Russian politicians and experts, mostly through informal channels, that the Obama administration does not really care about Georgia, and so the latter should deal with Russia on its own.

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