Securitization of democratization :the case study of Georgia after rose revolution

Abstract

Georgia is one of the few examples of successful democratization in the post- Soviet region. The trajectory of Georgian democratization which started with the Rose Revolution in 2003 is critical to understanding the changing nature of political transformation in world politics. Newly conceived the securitization of democratization that appeared during this process is the main topic of this dissertation. The United States’ attempt at the macro-securitization of democracy after the September 11 attacks had micro-level impacts in countries like Georgia. The process of political transformation in Georgia after the Rose Revolution is one of the prominent examples of a period of securitization of democratization. Securitization of democratization in this context means the discursive construction of a threat towards democratization that paves the way for the use of any means in order to sustain the process. Both external and internal stresses on the democratization process of Georgia led to the excessive securitization of the issue and with inclusion of other audiences such as Russia a new security dilemma arose. in other words democratization assistance to Georgia from the USA and Georgian enthusiasm for democratization was reinterpreted as a threat by Russia. This dissertation is first interested in presenting a new concept the securitization of democratization which contributes to two important study areas of international relations – security and democracy literature. Moreover this new phenomenon’s addition to the security-democracy nexus critically demonstrates the intertwined characteristic of the domestic and international levels in international studies. The new referent object of securitization –democratization- will also help to pursue the outcomes of securitization which is not analyzed in detail by the Copenhagen School. in line with this understanding the second part of this dissertation analyzes the case study of Georgia from the securitization of democratization perspective. This new perspective is noteworthy due to the recession of democratization globally nearly during the last decade. The analysis of the obstacles to democratization of states from a broader understanding will be helpful to the democratization efforts of the international community.