Fast-Track Authoritarianism - The Legislative Path of Democratic Erosion in Georgia (2023–2026)
Democratic backsliding increasingly occurs through formally legal mechanisms rather than overt constitutional rupture. This project examines Georgia’s rapid legislative transformation between 2023 and 2026 as a case study of authoritarian legalism. While existing scholarship has largely focused on gradual democratic erosion in countries such as Russia, Belarus, and Azerbaijan, Georgia represents an accelerated model in which restrictive legislation targeting civil society, media, political opposition, and public protest was adopted within a remarkably short period. The project argues that this case offers new insights into how democratic institutions can be dismantled through law itself. The research will combine comparative legal analysis of legislation, case law, and policy documents with semi-structured interviews involving legal scholars, human rights practitioners, journalists, and civil society representatives. It investigates whether Georgian authorities adapted legislative models from neighboring authoritarian regimes, identifies the distinctive features of Georgia’s trajectory, and assesses the implications for international human rights protection, particularly the ability of existing mechanisms to respond to rapidly evolving legislative restrictions. By conceptualizing Georgia as a case of accelerated authoritarian legalism, the project aims to contribute to comparative constitutional scholarship while providing practical recommendations for strengthening democratic resilience and developing earlier responses to fast-moving authoritarian legal change.
