Abstract

This article investigates contemporary populism using archival, parliamentary and discourse analysis, situating its rise within periods of social upheaval and affective political mobilisation. Focusing on recent developments in the Georgian Parliament, the author – an MP from 1999 to 2004 – examines how populist rhetoric capitalises on feelings of disempowerment amid rapid change, contrasts demagogy with substantive political practice, and critiques the predominance of civil servants over authentic politicians in post‑Soviet Georgia. The study argues that sustained civic literacy is essential both to discern misleading narratives from political reality and to reduce populism’s appeal.