The nature of the European Union discourse articulated by the Georgian Orthodox Church

Abstract

This Master’s thesis uncovers the discourse of the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC) towards the European Union on two dimensions: the official discourse of the GOC and the ongoing discourse among its members (churchmen). The discourse analysis is applied as the methodological tool. In order to find the official discourse, statements of the GOC and its Head Patriarch Ilia II are analyzed. For the identification of the internal discourse the GOC members are interviewed about the topical issues related to the Europeanization of Georgia. Theoretical basis of this research project is formed by analysis of the literature on Normative Power Europe, the role of religion in politics and Constructivism. Empirical data clarify that the general discourse of the GOC is pro-EU, although the internal discourse is heterogeneous and varies between pro-EU and pro-Russian narratives. Based on the interview results, this thesis also suggests the methodological approach for the future research to the in-depth study of the internal discourse of the GOC.