Georgian politics since late 2007 has attracted interest mainly because of itshighly polarized political climate. The leadership of Mikheil Saakashvili, widely heraldedas a beacon of democracy in the post-Soviet space following the peaceful Rose Revolutionof 2003, is pitted against an array of determined opposition forces that seek his removal andaccuse his government of authoritarian tendencies. Yet a closer study of Georgian politicssince the August 2008 Russian invasion suggests that the polarization of its politics is notreflected in society, which overwhelmingly supports conciliation and dialogue rather thananother round of revolutionary change. By mid-2009, the overheated Georgian politicalscene showed signs of adapting to this reality.