Featured Article From Europe Newsletters - 03/2025
By Nino Shatberashvili, Georgian Association of Social Workers (GASW)
In recent years, the Republic of Georgia has experienced significant political and social tension. The 2024 parliamentary elections were seen by much of the population as a crucial democratic opportunity to reshape the country's political landscape. However, post-election disappointment led many citizens to shift their focus to the 2025 local elections, while others expressed disillusionment through electoral boycotts and civic disengagement.
One of the most significant elections in the country's history was preceded by the adoption of the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence (Law of Georgia on Transparency of Foreign Influence, 2025) and followed by the Foreign Agents Registration Act (Law of Georgia on Foreign Agents Registration Act, 2025). Both laws were deemed unacceptable by the majority of social work professionals and many others. The situation worsened after the ruling party announced the suspension of Georgia's EU accession process until 2028, prompting widespread protests from people across various sectors of society.
Many representatives of affected organisations felt stigmatised and discredited by the new legislation, arguing that it undermines years of efforts to strengthen Georgian society in partnership with international allies. Most external funding that supports social services, capacity building, and vulnerable populations comes from Europe and the United States, filling gaps that domestic resources have been unable to address. Among the organisations most directly affected is the Georgian Association of Social Workers (GASW) – a member- based, non-profit, non-governmental organisation that has played a central role in developing Georgia's social work profession. GASW promotes professional values, advocates for effective social policies, supports the development of social services, and cooperates with academic institutions to advance social work education.
Following the law's adoption, GASW faced a difficult decision. Unable to bear the heavy financial penalties for non-compliance, the organisation registered under the new law but subsequently suspended all donor- supported activities in 2025 in an attempt to withdraw from the registry and await positive political change. Registration under the law requires extensive administrative reporting and disclosure of personal information by all staff and affiliates, which has been viewed as a violation of professional dignity and privacy.
The existing situation has deeply divided the professional community, exacerbating the already harsh conditions faced by Georgia's social workforce. Many social workers remain active in protests against the law and the broader political developments that followed. Protests have taken multiple forms: petitions, public declarations, and demonstrations in the capital and other major cities. Yet the visibility of dissent varies across groups. Some social workers have adopted radical stances, others prefer moderate engagement, and many state-employed practitioners – particularly frontline workers – are restricted in their political expression and lack organisational resources to engage in public advocacy.
This polarised environment has had negative consequences for professional unity. Disagreements over political issues have strained relationships among colleagues and, in some cases, between social workers and their clients when opposing views arise. Maintaining adherence to the values and ethics of social work, including respect, dignity, and non- discrimination, has become increasingly complex. Social workers require clear guidance on how to appropriately engage with political topics in conversations with clients (Addison, Miller, 2022). Political polarisation has also extended to the digital sphere. Avoidance of political disagreements has led to unfriending and/or unfollowing among colleagues and peers on social media. This behavior aligns with the selective avoidance theory, which suggests that individuals prefer information that supports their pre- existing views while avoiding contradictory perspectives to reduce cognitive dissonance. Psychological factors, such as the need to belong, further explain why individuals tend to avoid opposing opinions within weaker social ties online (Zhang, Shoenberger, 2024). Understanding and addressing these cognitive dynamics may be essential to bridging political divides within the profession.
The current polarisation has also reached academic environments, affecting relationships among professors, students, and emerging professionals. During protest periods, both students and lecturers have had to cross so-called “corridors of shame” to attend classes, symbolising the deep divisions within the community. This situation underscores the urgent need for academic action. Social work educators are now called to create classroom climates that welcome diverse viewpoints, encourage respectful debate, and uphold the Social Work Code of Ethics. Students should be guided to recognise the shared humanity that transcends political differences, promoting authentic dialogue and understanding. Now more than ever, universities and professional bodies must prepare resourceful social work educators capable of facilitating difficult conversations and guiding future practitioners to respect differing opinions while critically engaging with views that conflict with professional ethics.
According to resource mobilisation theory, successful collective action depends on the ability of a “bounded” group to transform bystanders into active participants in social change (Mckendrick & Webb, 2014). For the Georgian social work community, “heterodoxy of social work” is essential (Lerner, 2020, p.61) which means moving beyond resistance toward collaborative advocacy grounded in professional solidarity and ethical commitment. The resilience, unity, and ethical commitment of Georgia's social workforce will determine not only the future of the profession but also its contribution to a just, democratic, and inclusive society.
References
Addison, S., Miller, R. (2022). Navigating Political Disagreement in Social Work: An Analysis of Past Literature, Ethical Guidance, and Case Examples. Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research 12. https:// doi.org/10.7771/2158-4052.1572
Law of Georgia on Foreign Agents Registration Act (2025). Adopted by the Parliament of Georgia. Available at: https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/6461578? publication=0
Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence (2024). Adopted by the Parliament of Georgia. Available at: https:// matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/6171895? publication=0
Lerner, J.E. ( 2020) “Social Workers Can’t Be Republicans”: Engaging Conservative Students in the Classroom. Journal of Social Work Education, 56(1), 56-67. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2019.1642274
McKendrick, D., & Webb, S. (2014). Taking a political stance in social work. Critical and Radical Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1332/204986014X1409655358461
Zhang, B., & Shoenberger, H. (2024). Navigating political disagreement on social media: How affective responses and belonging influence unfollowing and unfriending. Media and Communication, 12, Article 8483. Available at: https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.8483
