Georgia's Rose Revolution: Change or Repetition? Tension between State-Building and Modernization Projects*.

The author reflects on the Rose Revolution in the Republic of Georgia in 2003, focusing on the social or systemic change that occurred within the country that distinguished Georgia's transition to democracy from other Color Revolutions at the same time in the region such as in Serbia, Ukraine, or Kyrgyzstan. Topics of discussion include the unity of post-revolution Georgian leadership and its domination over Georgian politics, pushes for the change of the powerful elite and socio-economic reform. The cultural context that drives change and transition in Georgia in 2008 is also discussed.