Polarization and Capture of the Country

Abstract

The wave of democratization that began at the end of the 20th century, thirty years later, was replaced by a wave of authoritarianism. The onset of dictatorship affects the vital interests of every citizen, making this problem extremely relevant in the modern era. The retreat from democratization and the return to dictatorship affect the vital interests of every citizen, leading to deep societal polarization and making this problem extremely pressing. The study analyzes the triad in the process of state capture: the capture of state power through free and fair elections, the capture of the state (or what is today called the "deep state"), and the attempts to capture civil society. The ban on opposition parties, exorbitant fines, bloody dispersals of rallies and demonstrations, poisoning of demonstrators with gas of unknown origin, and prison sentences for political opposition leaders and civic activists create the appearance of a strong dictatorship. However, these anti-democratic measures only deepen societal polarization and reduce the number of the ruling party’s supporters in the long term. Ultimately, this could lead the country to dangerous civil strife, the collapse of authoritarianism, and severe persecution of the GD leaders. A way out of the deep political crisis would be inter-party dialogue and free and fair parliamentary elections with security guarantees for the GD leadership. The study utilized secondary sources, an analysis of media reports, and legal and policy documents. The ideas presented in this article are based on the authors' long-term observations and field research conducted throughout the period of Georgia's independence. A conflict-transformation lens is employed to underscore how unresolved structural tensions accelerate polarization and enable authoritarian capture.