Shifting Narratives: Analyzing Georgia’s Democratic Backsliding through Illiberal Discourse

This exploratory research examines the authoritarian trajectory of Georgia under the ruling party, Georgian Dream (GD), by analyzing the evolution of its political discourse from the party’s founding in 2012 through 2024. While existing research on autocratization largely focuses on institutional malfunctions, this thesis argues and demonstrates through empirical findings that rhetorical shifts offer an equally critical and complementary lens for understanding regime change. Drawing on a single-case qualitative design, the study explores the ideational dimension of GD’s rhetoric, with a focus on its three leaders: the party’s founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili, former Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, and current Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. Using Political Discourse Analysis (PDA) and coding of 192 speeches and statements, the research traces a clear shift from liberal-democratic to increasingly illiberal narratives. The empirical analysis combines thematic and actor-centric approaches to reveal how rhetorical strategies evolved over time, including the coexistence of liberal and illiberal elements and the rationale behind these contradictions. The findings show that shifts in political language not only reflect but often precede regime change. Overall, the study underscores the importance of discourse as an early indicator of authoritarian consolidation.