The Impact of Hybrid Warfare on the Ongoing Domestic Political Processes in Georgia

Abstract

Hybrid warfare has emerged as one of the key challenges in contemporary international relations, exerting a particularly strong influence on small and geopolitically vulnerable states. This form of warfare encompasses military, informational, economic, cyber, and cultural instruments designed not only to undermine state sovereignty but also to destabilize domestic political systems.

Disinformation campaigns and informational manipulations constitute a critical component of these tactics, as they intensify political polarization and deepen social disagreement. As a result, the functioning of democratic institutions slows down, trust in political processes declines, and the formation of a broad social consensus becomes increasingly difficult. The use of economic levers, including energy dependence and sanctions in trade, impacts both Georgia’s internal economic stability and its foreign political orientation.

This article aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of hybrid warfare on Georgia’s internal political processes. It examines how informational and economic instruments are employed to shape the political agenda and explores the implications of these dynamics for the country’s democratic development. Particular attention is given to the crisis of public trust and the effects on Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration trajectory.

The findings suggest that under conditions of hybrid warfare, Georgia must strengthen resilience, protect critical infrastructure, and enhance public awareness in order to mitigate external pressure and ensure the sustainable development of democratic processes.