Social Structure, the Process of Democratization and the Question of Power in Post-Soviet Georgia

Abstract

The present article examines the social structure, mechanisms of exercising power, and the peculiarities of the democratization process in post-Soviet Georgia. The paper argues that the chronic instability of the country's political system and the vulnerability of democratic institutions are conditioned by deep structural causes. The aim of the article is to move beyond the normative analysis dominant in the academic sphere and establish an in-depth, structural approach to studying the crisis of post-Soviet politics. The research is grounded in the logic of the comparative historical method and integrates the historical-structural theory of democratization with Michael Mann's concept of the social sources of power. The traditional Western path of democratization is utilized as a theoretical "ideal type" and an analytical benchmark to highlight the structural distinctiveness of Georgia's development trajectory. The analysis reveals a "historical inversion" in the Georgian democratization process, radically distinguishing it from the Western model. While the traditional European path was characterized by socio-economic structuring preceding and conditioning the struggle for political rights, in Georgia, the process was reversed: the universal granting of democratic rights (following the Soviet collapse) outpaced the corresponding socio-economic structuring. The post-Soviet period witnessed social atomization, deindustrialization, and the absence of classically organized social actors, which significantly undermined the social pillars of democracy. The article observes the state of social sources of power (Economic, Ideological, Military, Political), their configuration, and dominance across specific periods in Georgia. Under conditions lacking social foundations for democratization, the struggle for power occurs not between groups with distinct social interests, but among elite factions. Power is acquired and maintained through the manipulation of various power sources, fostering a recurring concentration of power by elites. The research concludes that the complexities and lack of efficacy in the democratization process are directly linked to this historical inversion and the specificities of power configurations. Addressing existing challenges requires a shift from normative discourse to in-depth analysis based on political realities. This approach facilitates the search for innovative and context-specific pathways to strengthen the democratization process—a creative endeavor, given that the historical Western path cannot be replicated in this context.