The initiative brought together nearly 40 experts from Central Europe and the South Caucasus — including diplomats, researchers, civil society leaders, journalists, and policy specialists — to examine an increasingly important question: Can countries continue practical cooperation even when politics become deeply polarized?
The answer from many participants was clear: Yes, if cooperation is built around practical interests rather than political unanimity.
The project explored how the experience of the Visegrad countries — the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary — may offer useful lessons for Georgia and the wider South Caucasus. We are thankful to the International Visegrad Fund, Arnika, EUROPEUM, Visegrad Insight, and the Central European Forum for support.
Over the course of the project, four international webinars focused on issues ranging from:
- political and regional cooperation
- academic and scientific exchange
- civil society resilience
- environmental challenges
- business and economic ties
- media and public discourse
Participants represented a wide spectrum of institutions, including universities, think tanks, NGOs, and former senior officials from across the V4 region and Georgia. One of the key themes running through the discussions was the distinction between so-called “high politics” and “low politics.”
The proceedings of all our Webinars have been published in English and Georgian at:
While governments may clash politically, experts noted that cooperation often continues in less politicized areas such as trade, education, research, environmental policy, professional and civic networking. In other words, even when political dialogue becomes difficult, practical cooperation does not necessarily collapse.
Several speakers warned that political fragmentation can gradually affect not only government relations, but also academia, media, civil society, and international partnerships. Others stressed that maintaining international engagement becomes especially important during periods of tension.
Participants also highlighted the important role of civil society and academic cooperation in keeping communication channels open when formal political dialogue weakens.
As part of the project, the organizers published:
- multilingual webinar proceedings and summaries
- expert materials and analyses
- a Final Written Summary Report with Recommendations
All project materials, including webinar recordings and publications, are available on the project website.
The initiative has also helped spark broader conversations about whether certain elements of Central European cooperation could eventually be adapted to the South Caucasus — not as a copy of the Visegrad model, but as a source of practical experience.
The project’s overall conclusion may be simple, but significant: Even in politically divided environments, cooperation can survive — if societies continue investing in practical connections, professional networks, and shared interests.
We would like to thank all experts, partners, and participants who contributed to the project and helped make this international dialogue possible.
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