Gendered Dimensions of Political Legitimation in Georgia

The aftermath of Georgia’s 2024 parliamentary elections marked a critical turning point in the country’s political trajectory. Despite significant public support, the democratic opposition failed to secure a majority, paving the way for the Georgian Dream party to further consolidate power. In the months that followed, the government’s controversial decision to withdraw from its EU candidacy path and suppress widespread protests signaled a deepening democratic crisis. This development came largely as a surprise. Until recently, Georgia had a reputation of standing up for their democratic and European aspirations. The country had a long record of successfully implementing EU demanded reforms to improve its quality of democracy and had finally received candidate status in the end of 2023. Gender equality was among the political conditions from the EU side, which resulted in improvements in national legislation and frameworks in terms of gender equality and women’s empowerment as well as increased awareness about issues, such as sexual harassment and LGBT rights. Anti-discrimination legislation was introduced and numerous policies put in place in support of the protection and promotion of human rights in general, and gender equality in particular. As the only country in the region Georgia both signed and ratified the Istanbul Convention. In 2020, the Parliament approved amendments to the Election Code of Georgia introducing a gender quota. There was already concern, especially in the activist communities, these were symbolic measures from the side of the authorities and that their implementation lacking in many aspects. With the introduction of the new controversial law on “family values” in September this year - directly targeting the rights and freedoms of the LGBTI+ community - many believe the authoritarian government finally showed its true face. These domestic shifts of course also occurred against a broader geopolitical backdrop, with Russia actively promoting conservative values in the region to counteract Western (European) democratic influences. The purpose of this paper is to look closer at the various gender equality initiatives that have been used to bolster Georgia’s democratic credentials. Using the concept of authoritarian legitimation as a lens, the study explores the dual role of gender equality as both a genuine policy objective and a rhetorical tool in an era of democratic backsliding.The paper looks, for example, at legislative reforms, high-profile appointments of women in leadership roles, and state engagement with international organizations discussing whether such efforts reflect substantive progress or are instead performative acts designed to appease domestic and international audiences. By linking these strategies to broader patterns of democratic backsliding, the study highlights the risks of co-opting gender equality for legitimacy without fostering genuine inclusivity or governance reforms.This research contributes to understanding how regimes in transitional democracies like Georgia navigate tensions between democratic appearances and authoritarian tendencies, offering insights into the gendered dimensions of political legitimation in governance.