VVWithin the Soviet system, Georgia had the highest rate of corruption and crime3,4. As the Soviet system collapsed, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR, Eduard Shevardnadze, became the president of independent Georgia in 1992, after its brief civil war under Zviad Gamsakhurdia. Shevardnadze’s tenure was marked initially with significant economic and political transformation, but his administration soon turned to “corruption, cronyism, and a lack of reform… Shevardnadze became increasingly unpopular as the years went by”5,6. The corruption in the period immediately after post-Soviet transition became so engrained in the governance of the state and in society that it has been characterized as institutionalized7. Shevardnadze’s greatest challenge was to meet international expectations for the parliamentary elections, but the October 2003 elections were marked with massive breaches of electoral integrity: “international and domestic observers witnessed intimidation, ballot box stuffing, changing of tally sheets, and other serious violations8. The experiences of Georgia under first Gamsakhurdia, then Shevardnadze, were major motivating factors for the Georgian contribution (Rose) to the series of colour revolutions in Ukraine (Orange) and Kyrgyzstan (Tulip)9.
VVThe Rose Revolution was a peaceful transition of power from Shevardnadze to the opposition, led by Mikheil Saakashvili. His campaign centered on the fight against endemic corruption and on integrating Georgia more with the West. Holding power until 2013, Saakashvili was supported by the United States in particular, and pursued NATO membership as well as integration with European institutions. However, Saakashvili was criticized for having an “authoritarian streak”, and left “some degree of doubt about [his] commitment to Georgian democracy”10.
8883. Azfar et al. 2001
8884. Meyer 2001
8885. Miller 2004 p.12
8886. Azfar et al. 2001
8887. Rostiashvili 2011
8888. Miller 2004 p.15
8889. Tatum 2009 p.163
8810. Ibid. p.164
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