The thesis aims to analyze the relationship between the religion and the state in connection to democracy. The research focuses on the contemporary Georgia. The main religion in Georgia is Georgian Orthodoxy. Thus the Georgian Orthodox Church’s role in the society and the state is examined. The analysis is done starting from the so-called Rose Revolution in 2003 which marks the first steps of modern era in Georgia’s political system. Significant reforms have been done in Georgia since the Rose Revolution when the government started country’s democratization process. However, the GOC is an influential institution in Georgia and it creates the controversies between the state and the church. Therefore the role of the Church in contemporary Georgia is analyzed in order to see the specific relationship between the state and the church and find out whether that relationship can bring the positive outcomes to the country’s democratization process. The chosen case of Georgia is believed to be an interesting example of how the relationship between the two entities can be analyzed.

Moreover, the secularization and modernization theories are used as a relevant tool to approach the problem and answer the thesis questions. The framework of the thesis analysis follows the logic while firstly examining whether the religious institution in Georgia influences the decision making process. Therefore the first part of the analysis is focused on the question whether religion has an institutionalized role in the state. The second part of analysis discusses the Church’s role in the society. It aims to answer the question of how religion is perceived in society of Georgia. Thus the analysis goal is to see whether Church is a part of formulating society’s opinion, and whether Georgian Orthodox Church is a part of the social realm. Furthermore, the analysis is focused on the various events and processes in Georgia that illustrates the Georgian Orthodox Church’s role in the state matters as well as in the society. The conclusion is dedicated to answer the thesis problem of whether religion in Georgia can reinforce democracy in the country. Therefore the taken steps of the analysis are chosen in the particular way that helps to unfold the thesis problem and answers to the raised questions.