The Dynamics of the “Two Rs”: Populist Revisionism, Revanchism, and Georgia’s Security Dilemma

Abstract

In recent years, the interaction between populism and security strategies has increasingly shaped the dynamics of international security, particularly in regional conflicts and the strategic choices of small states. While existing scholarship extensively examines the impact of populism on domestic politics, its implications for foreign policy behavior and conflict generation remain comparatively underexplored. This article addresses this gap by analyzing how populist narratives interact with revisionist and revanchist security logics. In this study, revisionism is understood as a structural drive to alter the international status quo, whereas revanchism refers to its emotionally charged and historically grounded radicalization, often linked to grievances and aspirations for restoration. The article argues that populist mobilization frequently transforms security issues into moralized and identity-driven conflicts, where strategic decisions are perceived not merely as pragmatic policy choices but as tests of loyalty and civilizational belonging. Within this framework, the study conceptualizes the “two Rs” — revisionism and revanchism — dynamics as mutually reinforcing processes that increase the risk of conflict escalation. This process is particularly relevant for Georgia, as a small and strategically vulnerable state, which is simultaneously experiencing external pressures and the impact of internal political polarization. After Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, coercive diplomacy and territorial revisionist aspirations have intensified in the region, which creates additional pressure on small states. Methodologically, the research is largely based on discursive analysis. As a result, the article offers a conceptual framework that explains how populist narratives influence the security strategies and choices of small states in a competitive geopolitical environment.