RE-ENGAGE BACKGROUND REPORT PUBLISHED

The background paper "DOORS UNLOCK AND OPEN? HYBRID REGIMES AND FOREIGN INTERFERENCES IN THE EASTERN NEIGHBOURHOOD" analyzes the dynamics of hybrid regimes in Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, focusing on their vulnerability to foreign interference in a context of geopolitical tension. It examines how the mixed democratic and authoritarian characteristics of these regimes create opportunities for external actors, such as Russia, China, and Turkey, to exert influence. The study investigates how these countries utilize economic leverage, media manipulation, and soft power to challenge the European Union’s efforts to promote democracy. This paper highlights the significance of informal power structures by exploring the interaction between entrenched domestic elites, external pressures, and societal polarization. Additionally, it examines civic resistance and its implications for resilience and state sovereignty. Ultimately, the analysis provides insights into the challenges and strategies for strengthening democratic resilience in the Eastern Neighborhood. The report includes country studies in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.