Almut Rochowanski is an activist based in Europe specializing in resource mobilization for civil society in the former Soviet Union. Her writing on this subject appears on her Substack, Discomfort Zone.
Caught off guard by new proposals to halt the war in Ukraine, European leaders have rejected the idea of Kyiv giving up territory. What’s less clear is how they imagine making their red lines into a reality.
Donald Trump’s moves to dismantle USAID clearly aren’t driven by fears of infringing on other nations’ sovereignty. Still, we should recognize that Global South NGOs’ reliance on Western donors hinders the growth of self-sustaining civil societies.
Anti-government protests in Tbilisi have been hailed as a fight over Georgia’s European future — even though the government itself wants to join the EU. Amid the geopolitical posturing, the real issue being ignored is the chronic crisis of Georgian democracy.