Increasing Skepticism Towards NGO Actions Among Georgian Population

Increasing Skepticism Towards NGO Actions Among Georgian Population

In the unfolding political crisis in Georgia, non-governmental organization (NGO) activists play a significant role, decrying the government's reliance on repressive tactics, such as widespread arrests and police brutality. Simultaneously, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze alleges that NGO activists are responsible for fanning "violent demonstrations" and promoting "liberal fascism."

Data gathered by the Caucasus Barometer, a project by the Caucasus Research Resource Center-Georgia, indicates that the government's attempts to discredit NGOs have had an impact on public opinion. Analyzing Caucasus Barometer statistics from 2021 and 2024 reveals a rise in the percentage of citizens who view Georgian NGOs negatively, from 23% in 2021 to 32% in 2024. Meanwhile, the percentage of Georgians holding positive views of NGOs remains relatively constant during the same time period, coming in at 22% in 2024. In 2024, 46% of respondents had neutral or undecided opinions about NGOs, compared to 56% in 2021, indicating an increased polarization of attitudes.

Amidst the current confrontation, it remains to be seen whether the percentage of neutral Georgians regarding NGO activity could decrease significantly. It is currently impossible to predict which way public attitudes will break.

This growing skepticism towards NGOs among Georgians comes amidst a discourse involving government officials and NGO representatives, with the ruling Georgian Dream party aggressively targeting NGOs that criticize their policies since coming to power in 2012. Government officials have accused NGO activists of undermining traditional Georgian values, as well as attempting to impose Western concepts on society that they argue are out of sync with Georgia's cultural traditions.

The reliance of many Georgian NGOs on US and EU funding sources provides a basis for a government narrative that foreign governments are using activists to re-engineer Georgian society. In 2023, the Georgian Dream first attempted to introduce a "foreign agents" law, which was successfully adopted in 2024. This legislation requires NGOs and independent media that receive 20% or more of their funding from abroad to register as "foreign agents" and meet onerous reporting requirements. The government has repeatedly accused NGOs of attempting to instigate revolutions in Georgia and of sowing political discord on behalf of their Western donors.

A notable trend is the increased skepticism among young Georgians between 18 and 34 towards NGOs. In 2021, only 16% of young respondents expressed distrust towards NGOs, while this percentage almost doubled to 31% in 2024. This growth in distrust occurs at a time when the youth's engagement with NGOs remains very low, with only 6% participating in activities organized by NGOs.

Youth opinions regarding NGOs are generally shaped by external sources rather than personal experiences, with over two-thirds of young Georgians relying on social media and the Internet as their primary source of information about current affairs. While Georgian NGOs use social media to boost their visibility, these platforms contain a substantial amount of misinformation, exacerbating the polarization trend. Furthermore, young people's high online presence increases their susceptibility to disinformation campaigns.

Those who distrust international institutions tend to be more distrustful of NGOs, but there is no clear correlation between Georgians' perception of the Georgian Dream-dominated parliament and distrust towards NGOs. However, there is a strong correlation between distrust of NGOs and attitudes towards the European Union (EU), with 71% of those who fully distrust the EU also fully distrusting NGOs, compared to only 18% of those who fully trust the EU. A similar trend is observed in attitudes towards NATO, with 67% of Georgians who fully distrust NATO also distrusting NGOs.

In addition to the impact of government discourse and media bias, polling data suggests the government's efforts to tighten its control over mass media may be contributing to the reshaping of public attitudes towards NGO activity. In Georgia, television remains the primary medium through which the public obtains information about current affairs, and trust in NGOs tends to be lower among viewers of pro-government media compared to pro-opposition channels. The audience of pro-government media has also experienced an increase in their distrust of NGOs since 2021.

Notably, 84% of Georgians who trust POSTV, a pro-government television channel that focuses on criticizing the West and government liberal opponents, distrust NGOs. Furthermore, between 2021 and 2024, the percentage of NGO skeptics among Georgians who trust the Public Broadcaster has risen significantly, from 27% to 49%. This in spite of the Public Broadcaster's legal obligation to provide balanced news coverage and its previously open talk shows featuring opposition voices.

In 2023, the government modified the Law on Broadcasting, altering the Public Broadcaster's funding model and taking on increased oversight of its content. This development may further impact public attitudes towards NGOs in Georgia as the media landscape continues to evolve. The government's discourse and legislative actions targeting NGOs, combined with media bias and their reliance on social media for information, continue to shape public attitudes towards NGOs, particularly among young people, contributing to a polarized and skeptical environment.

1. The ongoing political crisis in Georgia has raised concerns about the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
2. NGO activists are often portrayed as instigators of violent demonstrations by the government.
3. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accuses NGO activists of promoting liberal fascism.
4. Caucasus Barometer data reveals a rise in the percentage of citizens viewing Georgian NGOs negatively.
5. In 2024, 32% of citizens had negative views of NGOs, compared to 23% in 2021.
6. The percentage of Georgians holding positive views of NGOs remains relatively constant during the same time period.
7. The increased polarization of attitudes towards NGOs is evident, with 46% of respondents having neutral or undecided opinions in 2024, compared to 56% in 2021.
8. The government's attempts to discredit NGOs have had an impact on public opinion.
9. The ruling Georgian Dream party has been aggressively targeting NGOs that criticize their policies since 2012.
10. Government officials accuse NGO activists of undermining traditional Georgian values and imposing Western concepts on society.
11. The reliance of many Georgian NGOs on US and EU funding sources provides a basis for a government narrative that foreign governments are using activists to re-engineer Georgian society.
12. In 2023, the Georgian Dream introduced a "foreign agents" law, which was successfully adopted in 2024.
13. This legislation requires NGOs and independent media that receive 20% or more of their funding from abroad to register as "foreign agents" and meet onerous reporting requirements.
14. The government has repeatedly accused NGOs of attempting to instigate revolutions in Georgia and of sowing political discord on behalf of their Western donors.
15. A notable trend is the increased skepticism among young Georgians towards NGOs.
16. In 2021, only 16% of young respondents expressed distrust towards NGOs, while this percentage almost doubled to 31% in 2024.
17. Young people's high online presence increases their susceptibility to disinformation campaigns.
18. Those who distrust international institutions tend to be more distrustful of NGOs.
19. There is no clear correlation between Georgians' perception of the Georgian Dream-dominated parliament and distrust towards NGOs.
20. However, there is a strong correlation between distrust of NGOs and attitudes towards the European Union (EU).
21. A similar trend is observed in attitudes towards NATO.
22. The government's efforts to tighten its control over mass media may be contributing to the reshaping of public attitudes towards NGO activity.
23. Television remains the primary medium through which the public obtains information about current affairs in Georgia.
24. The audience of pro-government media has experienced an increase in their distrust of NGOs since 2021.

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