ABSTRACT
The 'Rose Revolution', as it came to be known in honour of the flower that opposition supporters handed to police during their weeks of protest, marked a sixth and final critical phase in the evolution of the political regime during the period 1989–2004. The 'Rose Revolution' would not have worked with Saakashvili's charisma and rhetorical skills alone, and here the role of the National Movement as an organization proved crucial. In the days immediately after the 'Rose Revolution', Eduard Shevardnadze's resignation was followed by those of his most trusted ministers and it soon became clear how the top posts were to be distributed amongst the leaders of the former opposition. One year after the 'Rose Revolution' meaningful institutional reform had still not taken place in Georgia. By 2003, despite the cynicism and distrust most citizens of Georgia felt towards their government, few believed any meaningful change to be possible.
