What is it about?
Russia’s soft power has fueled Georgia’s conservative turn by promoting traditional values and anti-Western views, making authoritarianism seem acceptable and weakening support for democracy and EU integration. Other than that, Russia's soft power influence has been instrumental in weakening Georgia's perspectives for Euro-Atlantic integration which has been one of its most important strategic goals during the last two decades.
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Why is it important?
Georgia’s story shows how democracy can be quietly eroded not by tanks, but by ideas. Russia has used culture, religion, and media to shift values, making authoritarianism seem normal. This matters far beyond Georgia – it reveals how soft power can reshape societies and tilt nations away from democracy.
Perspectives
This piece is my modest contribution to understanding how the global promotion of liberal democracy is challenged–not only through military means, but also through insidious and highly impactful instruments such as soft power and propaganda. Amid today’s widespread democratic backsliding, I argue that it is vital to grasp where these threats originate, how they operate, and how they connect to broader questions of 'body politics'. I hope this study adds value to current discussions and helps shed light on how unconventional dimensions of power are used to undermine liberal democracy and free society today.
Vladimir Liparteliani
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Art of Subtle Influence: Russian Soft Power and Georgia’s Conservative Turn, Caucasus Survey, August 2025, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.30965/23761202-bja10053.
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