How Young Georgians See the Future and What We Must Learn

This event will be moderated by REECA student Markus Vaher, an innovation fellow with the Davis Center's Program on Georgian Studies, and grew out of his time conducting research in Georgia in the summer of 2025.

When the Rose Revolution took place two decades ago, many young Georgians envisioned a European future. They engaged in political and societal life, nurturing a vibrant civil society, strengthening democratic institutions, and developing protections for the rule of law. In the South Caucasus and beyond, Georgia’s path of democratic reform came to be seen as a notable exception and an example for many to follow.  

Gradually, an oligarch and his party captured the state. They consolidated economic power, restricted civil liberties, and — in the eyes of many — gave up on a democratic future. When universities dissented, the government threatened to dismantle or defund them. And when Georgians came out to protest, the government decided to use violence against its own citizens. The situation has deteriorated beyond democratic backsliding; some call it dictatorial drift.  

While the protests were diverse in their composition and not exclusively youth-led, questions about youth participation and young Georgians' views on the country's present and future remain a core topic of the discussion. 

This webinar is a conversation with young Georgians who have themselves experienced and resisted the entrenchment of authoritarian rule in Georgia. Focusing on the future, it aims to paint a picture of the constraints and opportunities they face today and to articulate a vision for a better tomorrow.  

Information about additional speakers is forthcoming.