EU Peace Policy in Georgia in Student Focus

Abstract

At the end of the XX century, after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the so-called Socialist Camp, the epoch of big changes began worldwide. At the same time, along with stable development, current conflicts and dangers are becoming acute. In some countries, they are connected with geopolitical shifts, ethnic, religious, political, economic, gender, and other social inequalities, discrimination, organized crime, extremism, terrorism, refugees, internally displaced persons, migration, etc. The transformation has been occurring not only in all spheres of social life, its social-economic, cultural, religious, and other aspects, but these shifts have concerned social groups and private individuals. In this condition, international organizations' roles, functions, duties, and responsibilities are being increased. These organizations gradually became critical global actors, especially in conflict and post-conflict countries. As a unique political, economic and military organization, the EU contributes to establishing peace on the international political scene. Its defense and security policy allows the EU to play the first fiddle in the peacemaking (crisis and military) missions, both in Europe and the whole world. In its peacemaking policy, the EU mainly uses the means of "Soft Power," which signifies involvement in the conflict situation without brute force. These means are political dialogues, mediation, etc. Today, in the third decade of the XXI century, when Russia invaded Ukraine, the problem of security and defense appeared in Europe. The result of this fierce war is considerably connected not only with the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian fighters but also with the actions of the EU, its common policy to defend the countries' geopolitical and strategic interests, territorial unity, and peace. In 2008, on September 15, the monitoring mission of the EU began to work in Georgia. EU is a peacemaking organization that favors preventing conflict and strengthening the peace in the conflict regions of our country. The actions of the EUMM become more active in such situations when the crisis arises, and it becomes necessary to react to this phenomenon immediately. The rights of the EUMM are limited on the other side of the frontier, in the separate regions-in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions. Despite this, its impact and authority are considerable. Our report aims to show the students' attitudes towards the Euro Union and their opinions about its policy in Georgia. In order to study this topic, we have conducted sociological research using a triangulation approach: interviewers with the experts, in-depth interviewers with the students, online survey; using these methods, we have analyzed the issue mentioned above, we have shown the responsibility of the EUMM in Georgia, role in the regulation of the existing conflicts. The participants underlined the priorities and objectives of Georgia's European integration and the areas of the partnership and cooperation between Georgia and the EU. They discussed the evolution of the EU defense and security policy and the threats and challenges of Georgia. The respondents focused on an estimated Georgia's active participation in the Western security missions.