Generation of Independent Georgia: In Between Hopes and Uncertainties, Youth Study 2023 – Georgia was initiated and funded by Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung. Youth Study was held first time in 2017 after 6 years we have an opportunity to present renewed results.

According to main findings Foreign policy plays an important role in the Georgian public discourse, plurality  of young people living in Georgia believe that the country’s foreign policy currently favours the West  and  young people explained that they feel European based on their values, points of view, mentality, mindset and daily routines. Only a negligible share of respondents associate Europe with negative sentiments, such as it being an unwelcoming place (3%), characterised by moral decline and the loss of traditional values (5%) or being hostile to Georgia (3%).  Moreover, the majority (79%) believes that the European Union plays a positive or rather positive role in Georgia nations in facilitating Georgia’s economic growth, protecting human rights and ensuring national security.

However Young people in Georgia have diverse views regarding national security issues and attitudes toward foreign countries. When asked to name one specific country they believe is Georgia’s closest friend, the most frequent answers were regional and neighbouring countries and the United States, a plurality named Ukraine (28%). Young people in Georgia see Russia as the most important threat to Georgia’s statehood (84%), national security (78%), economic system (74%) and national values (72%). Notably, ethnic Georgians are more likely to hold these beliefs. 

The perception of Russia as the biggest threat to Georgia’s national values, security, statehood and economic system is equally shared across different socio-demographic groups of young people. However, there are a few exceptions: ethnic Georgians tend to perceive the Russian threat to a higher degree than ethnic minorities for all discussed topics.