In the year since the war between Russia and Georgia, it has become clear that in addition to the vague intention of resetting U.S. relations with Russia, Washington must develop distinct policies for Georgia and the other countries on Russia’s periphery and not continue to simply lump bilateral relations with post-Soviet governments together or in terms of their individual relations with Moscow. This new approach must reflect the reality of the Russian threat, but also the need for concrete political reform, which is the key to regional stability.
The Obama administration’s Georgia policy, so far, is strikingly similar to that of the Bush White House, offering strong rhetorical support for Tbilisi in the hope that this can help reduce Russia’s growing regional influence. Unfortunately, like its predecessor, the Obama administration often blurs and confuses the terms “friend” and “democracy” with regard to Georgia. This undermines the development of democracy in the former Soviet Union and beyond because few people view Georgian democracy as a serious proposition.
Both of us have worked with President Mikheil Saakashvili and other Georgian leaders before, during and after the Rose Revolution. We know firsthand about the difficulties confronting democratic development in the country, as well as how the highly personalized nature of relations between the U.S. and Georgian leadership has contributed to bipartisan American reluctance to criticize the steps Georgia has made away from democracy in recent years.
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