Georgian Parliament Speaker criticizes foreign aid at Global Parliamentary Conference

During his address at the general debates of the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union) on July 30, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili delivered a sharp critique of foreign aid practices, asserting that they often undermine democratic institutions and international stability.

Quoting US President Donald Trump, Papuashvili referred to Trump’s executive order on “Reassessing US Foreign Aid,” signed on his inauguration day. “The foreign aid industry and its bureaucracy... serve to destabilize global peace by promoting ideas in foreign countries that directly oppose harmonious and stable relations both within and between nations,” Papuashvili quoted.

“The most important aspect of these words is that a leader of the free world exposed the harmful practices of foreign aid, which is often used as a tool for political interference rather than genuine democratic development,” he added.

Papuashvili argued that the current era marks an unusual period in global development, where foreign aid has negatively impacted international cooperation. According to him, under the pretext of democratization and through the use of so-called civil society organizations, such aid has eroded the rule of law and damaged both domestic democratic institutions and the foundation of rules-based international order.

He also lamented that questioning the morality and effectiveness of foreign-funded NGOs has become taboo:
“A deeper look into these concepts, principles, and processes leads us to an uncomfortable conclusion – that through manipulation of foreign aid and civil society, the essence of democracy has shifted from ‘rule by the people’ to foreign rule. In place of democracy, we are now offered ‘alienocracy’ – governance not by the will of the people, but by externally imposed doctrines legitimized by foreign-funded NGOs.”

Papuashvili argued that this so-called alienocracy ideologically restricts pluralism and gives preference to societal groups that align with foreign-imposed ideologies.
“Yet we know well – democracy is a way of life, not an ideology. Imposing political influence under the guise of democratic aid contradicts the essence of democracy,” he said.

He went on to claim that Georgia’s democracy has suffered from such foreign political interference. “We witnessed the creation of a strange narrative where foreign-funded NGOs were first equated with civil society, and then civil society with the people themselves. Through this manipulation, NGOs came to represent 'the people,' while being measured not by democratic mandate but by the size of their foreign funding.”

Papuashvili concluded that this replacement of genuine civil society with so-called “fake NGOs” is a direct blow to democracy. He called for a return to the fundamental norms of rules-based international order, including respect for sovereignty, democracy, and non-interference in internal affairs.

“Excessive foreign interference must give way to respect for national sovereignty, and foreign-funded NGOs must yield to genuine civil society – and with it, real democracy,” he said.