VVThe post-Soviet legacy of Georgia has been described along two distinct models: as a triumphant and unwavering success story or as a troubled journey along an uncertain path to stability. In the 23 years since its independence from the USSR, Georgia has gone from being a classic failed state to a relatively thriving social, political, and economic beacon in the Caucasus. There are many factors that scholars and stakeholders attribute to this significant development – however, I will focus my research2 on a number of key reforms and issue areas.
VVThe main focus will be on the efforts aimed at eradicating petty corruption and promoting transparent administrative procedure, with some additional discussion on corruption in the higher education system, taxation reform, and procurement and competition reform. A significant amount of attention will be given to analyzing the societal reforms and government initiatives that have furthered the anti-corruption endeavour. The overarching sentiment, in both primary and secondary research, has been that the most important legacy of the Rose Revolution was the strengthening of civil society – particularly in light of the contestation around the effectiveness of the anti-corruption reforms. While the post-revolutionary government and Western observers
8881. Miller 2004 p.19
8882. This research is based on significant primary research conducted in the Republic of Georgia in February 2014, primarily in the form of interview data with such stakeholders as Transparency International, the Eurasian Partnership Foundation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, and the European Union Special Representative to Georgia. Additional secondary research has also been undertaken in order to ground this paper in the current literature on post-Soviet transition and European enlargement.
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has been made in the fight against petty corruption, the issue of embedded elite corruption persists in the Republic of Georgia. Although civil society has strengthened, and Euro-Atlantic values have taken root, there remain significant obstacles until Georgia can be considered a fully successful post-Soviet state.
“Soviet-style vote rigging is no way to lead a nation with aspirations of joining the West, nor is it feasible in a country with a high level of literacy and free mass media. Indeed, the Georgian people acted out one of the purest renderings of the social contract. No longer seeing Shevardnadze’s government as legitimate, they invoked their right to remove it. Although a significant obstacle to Georgia’s future development has been removed, the story is by no means finished.”
-Eric A. Miller on the Rose Revolution1