Nika Gvaramia: To defeat authoritarianism and propaganda, society needs ‘Avtandilism’ – cool, fact-based strategy and collective action

“I thought a lot about this, but I decided to put it in a difficult way, using three literary archetypes and one mythic-historical paradigm. As they like to say now, in the coming days I will explain, expand on it, and present it to you ‘in a popular way.’ For now, whoever has the time and desire, read this complicated text to understand how I see the situation,” Nika Gvaramia, one of the leaders of the “Opposition Alliance,” wrote on social media.

According to him, the solution is always Alexander’s rationalism: to reject the rules proposed by the system, look at the facts with a cool head, and, through one specific strategic action, cut the damned knot and solve the problem.

“Hamlet: reflection, analysis, skepticism, and egoism that kills action. The result: the death of Ophelia — not the ideal woman, but the real woman — as the primary value-oriented reference point. Real values are always sacrificed to reflexive self-indulgence, including that of ‘good people.’

Don Quixote: idealism, faith, and self-sacrifice devoid of analysis and incapable of producing results. The hidalgo fights windmills for an idea he has invented and believes in, and it is precisely this sincerity and devotion that distances him from reality. Real values are always sacrificed to ideological fanaticism, including that of ‘good people.’

Let us look at Shakespeare and Cervantes and learn how not to act.

To understand how we should act, let us follow Rustaveli and choose the archetype of Avtandil: rational leaders and strategists. They receive a mission from their homeland — Tinatin — develop a plan based on facts rather than illusions, unite different groups and gain allies instead of turning allies into enemies. They then move to effective, collective action to destroy the Castle of Kajeti — the authoritarian system. And they win! And they save their homeland!

Now, a paradigm to understand not who we are, but how we should act: the Gordian knot, a symbol of authoritarianism and propaganda. Legend has it that ‘whoever unties this knot will become the lord of Asia.’ The system – mysticism, prophecy, or, in our reality, propaganda – has created the perception that ‘untying’ means poking at it with one’s fingers, so to speak, ‘untangling the knot.’ Alexander looked at the situation plainly: the knot had to be destroyed in order to free the cart. Well-trodden paths do not always work, and constantly repeating them like a mantra is foolish. What matters is not the ritual but the result: Alexander drew his sword and continued his journey to conquer Asia. And he won, becoming the lord of Asia!

Authoritarian propaganda always tries to place such ‘Gordian knots’ before the public: artificial, tangled pseudo-problems, conspiracy theories, false dilemmas, and ideological debates, in order to distract attention from the main issue, turn us against each other, drain our energy, and let off steam. In this case, the solution is always Alexander’s rationalism: reject the rules proposed by the system, look at the facts with a cool head, and, with one specific strategic action, cut the damned knot and solve the problem.

Alexander teaches us how to approach a problem: do not play by the system’s rules. Avtandil teaches us planning, purposefulness, tirelessness, organization, and the power of unity.

To defeat authoritarian illusions and propaganda, society needs neither ideological fanaticism (Don Quixote) nor intellectual nihilism and hand-holding (Hamletism), but a cool, fact-based strategy and organized, collective action toward a common goal (Avtandilism).

That is why we should be neither Hamlets nor Don Quixotes. When the homeland is in danger, we should be Avtandils and destroy the Kajeti fortress together! When time is short and the result is vital, we must cut the Gordian knot! We must cut it together,” Nika Gvaramia wrote.