the judiciary is strengthened, many stakeholders are optimistic of the further development that Georgia could be able to undergo52. A recurring theme in the field research conducted was that although the government’s emphasis has been on combating corruption, the best way to ensure that the reforms are upheld are to promote transparency – and importantly, accountability.
VVSome suggest that Georgia is a beacon in the Caucasus53. When Saakashvili became president, there was an “initial honeymoon period… filled with great change and hopes for the future of a country that could, perhaps, prove to be an example for its immediate Caucasian neighbours and for other former Communist republics in Eurasia”54. Georgia is looking westward in the hopes of achieving what the Baltic states were able to accomplish: economic, political, and social integration with the West. Civil society in Georgia is Westernizing: Georgia has initialed an Association Agreement with the EU (to be signed in late 2014), integrating it even further with Europe – a step which its other European Neighbourhood Policy counterparts failed to take. In terms of Georgia’s civil society development, there genuinely seem to be solid reforms in not only state institutions, but also a changing understanding of society for the Georgian people – they have more agency, are more knowledgeable of their rights, and have a rich environment for civil society organizations that aim to further the development of the state through bottom-up processes.
VVAlthough much of the visible corruption has been eradicated, there remains room for improvement in eliminating the hidden corruption. However, with the solid foundation that was entrenched during the Rose Revolution, and the increase in public trust, Georgia has indeed become a beacon in the South Caucasus and will continue to experience success as the integration with Europe reaches fruition.
88852. Interview with Transparency International, Tbilisi, Georgia, February 2014
88853. Interview with Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development, Tbilisi, Georgia, February 2014
88854. Tatum 2009 p.170
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