There is Still a Chance For Russia

The authors study the sociological grounds of Georgia's foreign policy based on the long-term researches conducted by American and Georgian NGOs, yet applying a critical approach to the provided data and figures. Despite the aggressive rhetoric of Georgian politicians towards Russia and apparen...

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Main Authors: Alexey A. Tokarev, Andrej S. Dyogtev, Adlan R. Margoev
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MGIMO University Press 2016-01-01
Series:Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta
Subjects:
Online Access:http://mgimoreview.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/603
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author Alexey A. Tokarev
Andrej S. Dyogtev
Adlan R. Margoev
author_facet Alexey A. Tokarev
Andrej S. Dyogtev
Adlan R. Margoev
author_sort Alexey A. Tokarev
collection DOAJ
description The authors study the sociological grounds of Georgia's foreign policy based on the long-term researches conducted by American and Georgian NGOs, yet applying a critical approach to the provided data and figures. Despite the aggressive rhetoric of Georgian politicians towards Russia and apparent social consensus as regards EU and NATO integration, the article concludes that Russia has not completely "lost" Georgia. The results of the sociological surveys show that up to one third of the population of Georgia are ready to consider Russia as main partner of their country, and this figure depends to a certain extent on the Georgian authorities' policy. In addition, the potential of the Eurasian integration of Georgia is not equal to zero, and it is supported by around one fifth of the population. In the authors' view, Georgia may appreciate help with solving its domestic economic problems far more than being called "a beacon of democracy" or "a truly European state". Although according to the results of the most surveys Russia takes the first place in the list of the threats to Georgia, exceeding even the figures for the banned "Islamic State", around one third of the population of Georgia consistently consider Russian threat exaggerated. Together with those who do not regard Russia as a threat at all, these citizens of Georgia almost equal the number of people who believe that "Russia poses a threat to Georgia". Even if Russia does not change its position on the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and the West remains the goalpost of Georgia's foreign policy, the ties between the people, cultures, and economies of the two countries will not be severed. However, negligence towards the potential of developing the bilateral relations with no efforts taken on a mutual basis may significantly weaken the ties between Russia and Georgia by undermining the chances of strengthening them.
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spelling doaj.art-6fef3ead8cb54683b495ca9eea1c077a2022-12-21T19:06:15ZengMGIMO University PressVestnik MGIMO-Universiteta2071-81602016-01-01494148164603There is Still a Chance For RussiaAlexey A. Tokarev0Andrej S. Dyogtev1Adlan R. Margoev2Московский государственный институт международных отношений (университет) МИД РоссииМосковский государственный институт международных отношений (университет) МИД РоссииМосковский государственный институт международных отношений (университет) МИД РоссииThe authors study the sociological grounds of Georgia's foreign policy based on the long-term researches conducted by American and Georgian NGOs, yet applying a critical approach to the provided data and figures. Despite the aggressive rhetoric of Georgian politicians towards Russia and apparent social consensus as regards EU and NATO integration, the article concludes that Russia has not completely "lost" Georgia. The results of the sociological surveys show that up to one third of the population of Georgia are ready to consider Russia as main partner of their country, and this figure depends to a certain extent on the Georgian authorities' policy. In addition, the potential of the Eurasian integration of Georgia is not equal to zero, and it is supported by around one fifth of the population. In the authors' view, Georgia may appreciate help with solving its domestic economic problems far more than being called "a beacon of democracy" or "a truly European state". Although according to the results of the most surveys Russia takes the first place in the list of the threats to Georgia, exceeding even the figures for the banned "Islamic State", around one third of the population of Georgia consistently consider Russian threat exaggerated. Together with those who do not regard Russia as a threat at all, these citizens of Georgia almost equal the number of people who believe that "Russia poses a threat to Georgia". Even if Russia does not change its position on the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and the West remains the goalpost of Georgia's foreign policy, the ties between the people, cultures, and economies of the two countries will not be severed. However, negligence towards the potential of developing the bilateral relations with no efforts taken on a mutual basis may significantly weaken the ties between Russia and Georgia by undermining the chances of strengthening them.http://mgimoreview.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/603Грузиясоциологический анализвнешняя политикаРоссияЕАЭССШАНАТОЕСGeorgiasociological analysisforeign policyRussiaEEUUSANATOEU
spellingShingle Alexey A. Tokarev
Andrej S. Dyogtev
Adlan R. Margoev
There is Still a Chance For Russia
Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta
Грузия
социологический анализ
внешняя политика
Россия
ЕАЭС
США
НАТО
ЕС
Georgia
sociological analysis
foreign policy
Russia
EEU
USA
NATO
EU
title There is Still a Chance For Russia
title_full There is Still a Chance For Russia
title_fullStr There is Still a Chance For Russia
title_full_unstemmed There is Still a Chance For Russia
title_short There is Still a Chance For Russia
title_sort there is still a chance for russia
topic Грузия
социологический анализ
внешняя политика
Россия
ЕАЭС
США
НАТО
ЕС
Georgia
sociological analysis
foreign policy
Russia
EEU
USA
NATO
EU
url http://mgimoreview.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/603
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