The Security, Policy & Nationalism Research Center (UGSPN) represents a synthesis of expertise in security, policy, nationalism studies and research. Established with the vision of becoming a leading institution, UGSPN strives to provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to understanding, researching, and influencing policy in the realms of national security, defense, and nationalism studies.
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Author: Nikoloz Kavtaradze
Under Vladimir Putin’s leadership, Russia has pursued the strategic objective of reestablishing itself as a major global actor, evoking the Soviet Union’s historical influence. This ambition reflects a broader goal of challenging Western hegemony and positioning Russia as a pivotal player within an emerging multipolar world order. To achieve these ends, the Kremlin has initiated a comprehensive campaign against Western liberal democracy. Central to this strategy is the promotion of authoritarianism as a superior model to democracy, the consolidation of formal and informal alliances among authoritarian, non-democratic, and semi-democratic states, and the systematic disruption of the international order founded on the principles of rule-based governance.
Given the Russian Federation’s constrained military and material resources for direct confrontation with the West, it has chosen to conduct its declared war in the so-called “grey zone,” operating below the threshold that would trigger significant international responses to its hostile and illegal actions. This style of battle, known as hybrid warfare in Western cultures, came under increased focus after Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in 2022, prompting the West to respond more appropriately. This reaction was reasonable, given that the goals of Russian hybrid warfare were to weaken Western strategic alliances, undermine liberal democracy, and exert decisive influence over the rules-based international order and global political systems in order to advance its own strategic interests.
UGSPN Annual Report 2024
The Georgian Elections Observatory (#GEObservatory24) is a short-term initiative focused on fact-checking pre-election narratives in the lead-up to the parliamentary elections on October 26. Unlike traditional fact-checking platforms, this project goes beyond verifying individual claims by analyzing entire narratives. It combines political analysis with fact-checking and media analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of the pre-election discourse. The project is supported by the Fojo Swedish Media Institute in collaboration with the Investigative Media Lab (IML) and the UG Security, Policy, and Nationalism Research Center (UGSPN).
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in these stories do not necessarily reflect those of the listed organizations.
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