EUROPEANIZATION AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR GEORGIA’S DEMOCRATIZATION

Abstract

This paper reviews the European Union-Georgia relations and explores why and how the Europeanization has been a tool for Georgia’s democratization. It examines the notions of Europeanization and democratization, and scrutinizes their linkage in the context of Georgia. In order to prove the research question, the research reviews several major official documents and implemented reforms, mostly in democracy, good governance, human rights, strengthening democratically accountable institutions, justice, freedom and security. The paper argues that democratization agenda has been driven by Europeanization because of three reasons: it was a legitimization factor; they had value convergence; and pragmatic reason – EU provided necessary technical expertise, knowledge and financial resources for facilitating the painful reforms and easing their transitional consequences.

Keywords

• association agreement
• georgia
• europeanization
• democratization