Civic IDEA Chairperson Tinatin Khidasheli delivered a talk at Hitotsubashi University within the Global Governance Research (GGR) series, addressing the theme “Small States in Turbulent Regions: Lessons from Georgia’s Current Political Challenges.”
The discussion focused on Georgia’s evolving geopolitical environment and the wider dynamics of the South Caucasus, including the pressures created by hybrid threats, authoritarian influence, and regional instability. Khidasheli emphasized how these dynamics shape the strategic choices of small states and how those choices, in turn, affect broader regional security.
In its introduction, the Institute for Global Governance Research highlighted Khidasheli’s leadership at Civic IDEA and her long-standing work on countering authoritarian influence, Russian propaganda, and hybrid warfare. It also noted her earlier roles in public service, including serving as Georgia’s first female Minister of Defense and as founder and chairperson of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association.
The session brought together students and faculty for an in-depth conversation on the challenges facing democratic governance in turbulent regions and the importance of understanding small states’ responses to global shifts.
