Opportunities Matter: The Evolution of Far-Right Protest in Georgia

Recent years saw the emergence of scholarship on the far right as a social movement. This scholarship expands social movement studies to include the far right, as well as far-right literature to include non-party actors. However, as much of far-right literature, the study of the far-right as a social movement also remains focused on Western democracies and has yet to reflect the global nature of the far right. This paper aims to point to the value of expanding far-right scholarship beyond Western democracies, arguing that movements beyond this part of the world are not simply “catching up” with the West. Focusing on the case of Georgia and applying social movement theory, the paper examines the role of political opportunities in mobilization to the far right. The paper aims to help explain why far-right mobilization can vary across countries and over time, despite similar historical preconditions. Like far-right movements in other Eastern European countries, the far right in Georgia also emerged in the distinctive context of post-Soviet transition to liberal democracy and market capitalism. Yet, this fast-paced modernization in itself was insufficient to trigger far-right backlash until political opportunities became available for the far right. The paper relies on a systematized database of 166 far-right protest events in Georgia 2003–2020, from press conferences and petitions to violent demonstrations. The temporal variation of far-right protest and its main characteristics (frequency, size, target, level of violence) is then examined along with legal, political and discursive opportunities to explore how changing opportunities have shaped the development of the far-right social movement. Studying the evolution of far-right protest over time, the paper shows that the movement remained dormant for over two decades after post-Soviet independence and a decade after the 2003 Rose Revolution, despite fast-paced political and economic transformation. After 2012, however, less severe repression of protest, divides within political elites, and sympathetic attitudes of mainstream political and societal actors enabled far-right mobilization and violence. The far right has activated public support by rallying against political and societal figures considered progressive or liberal, immigrants, religious minorities and, most often, against the LGBTI community. By collaborating with established parties and proposing exclusion-oriented legislative initiatives to the parliament, the Georgian far right has achieved an impact on mainstream politics and on democratic backsliding. The Georgian case highlights three findings of relevance for the broader study of the far right. First, non-parliamentary actors may sometimes wield more political influence than parliamentary parties. Limited electoral success does not render far-right groups irrelevant: the political context and their interaction with mainstream parties can enable a lasting impact. Second, far-right studies must expand beyond Western democracies. Country-specific opportunity structures help account for the growth of the far right. Third, opportunities matter. Backlash against modernization can be deep-rooted but may remain dormant for years. However far-reaching and fast-paced, modernization might be insufficient to trigger far-right mobilization, even if public opinion remains supportive of far-right ideas. Far-right protest erupts when political opportunities become available.