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Georgia’s Unfinished European Journey

by Simon Garnett

Published 2026-07-13 10:43:30+00:00

If a country has been turning toward Europe since the Middle Ages, why is it still an outsider?

0:00 / 15:00 · Narrator Vindemiatrix

Context

A black banner hanging over the entrance of Ilia State University in Tbilisi reads Not for sale. It is a stark image for a country that recently gained EU candidate status, only to see its academic freedoms suddenly pulled back. Writing on 13 July 2026, the author traces Georgia’s European aspirations from ancient Greek texts to the current protests in the streets. The central tension isn't just about modern policy, but a historical gap: the country missed the specific medieval era when Western universities first began to shape democratic life.

Show notes

A history of Georgia’s efforts to join European culture and politics, from ancient times to its current bid for EU membership. Traces the historical absence of the university as a central institution and explains how this lack of academic tradition shaped the country’s democratic growth. Recent government pressure on higher education is described as the latest obstacle in a centuries-old turn toward the West.

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