The article, originally published by Myth Detector, analyzed how pro-government media and experts equate the conspiracy theory of the leaders of “Georgian Dream” and the term “Global War Party” with the concept of the “Deep State” to cultivate war fears ahead of the elections, when in reality, these two terms have distinct histories and definitions.
On October 5, “Marshalpress,” a publication with pro-government editorial policy, along with Front News and an anonymous Facebook account, disseminated a statement made by Mamuka Areshidze on October 3 on Radio 98.5 regarding the so-called “Global War Party.” According to Areshidze, the term “Global War Party” originated with the 34th U.S. President, Eisenhower, and has been used by every American president since.
Areshidze further stated that former Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Lieberman criticized current Prime Minister Netanyahu in an interview where he discussed the ongoing situation in Israel and brought up the Global War Party.
Mamuka Areshidze: “When the Global War Party is the topic [of discussion], it isn’t about a particular country regardless of whether one wants it to be. I don’t like this term either, but it was coined by Eisenhower; it’s referred to as the Deep State. Then Kennedy adopted it, and all American presidents have used this phrase. I can’t explain why it is so heavily criticized and ridiculed in Georgia. The Global War Party is, of course, encountered in Israel. Today, I listened to an interview with former Prime Minister Lieberman discussing the situation in Israel, where he mentioned the Global War Party.
Areshidze equates the conspiracy theory of the leaders of “Georgian Dream” and the term “Global War Party” with the concept of the “Deep State,” but in reality, these two terms have distinct histories and definitions. His statement contains several false claims:
- The term “Deep State” was not coined by Dwight Eisenhower; in reality, it first emerged in Turkey.
- Not all U.S. presidents have used this term; only Donald Trump has actively discussed the Deep State.
- Former Israeli Minister Lieberman did not mention the term “Global War Party” during the interview.
- What is “Deep State,” and where does it originate from?
The term “Deep State” originated in Turkey. The Turkish phrase “Derin Devlet” translates literally to “Deep State” and was used to refer to a covert network within the Turkish government and military that operated independently of the country’s official authorities. Historian Ryan Gingeras even traces the term’s origin back to the end of the Ottoman Empire. According to Gingeras, the term “generally refers to a kind of shadow or parallel system of government in which unofficial or publicly unacknowledged individuals play important roles in defining and implementing state policy.” According to the historian, in the Turkish context, the Deep State is not a singular entity but rather a mixture of both legal and illegal elements and groups of people.
The term is not attributed to Eisenhower, and he did not use it directly. However, it is often associated with his famous 1961 farewell address, in which he warned about the dangers of the “military-industrial complex,” a concept that can be viewed as similar. In his speech, Eisenhower discusses the concentration of power and influence among defense contractors, the Pentagon, and government agencies, expressing concerns that their interests could potentially overshadow the democratic will of the state
While Eisenhower’s farewell speech and the term “Deep State” are occasionally linked, the contexts and meanings of “Deep State” and “Military-Industrial Complex” are still quite different from one another. Eisenhower was primarily concerned with militarism, whereas the Deep State narrative frequently highlights entrenched bureaucracies and intelligence agencies that function independently of elected officials.
- What is the Global War Party?
Regarding the “Global War Party,” it is a conspiracy theory employed by the ruling party “Georgian Dream,” with discussions around it gaining momentum following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The party leaders do not specify who is included in the Global War Party, but they claim that this group’s objective is to draw Georgia into the ongoing war in Ukraine and to open a second front.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze asserts that the Global War Party exerts significant influence over the structures of the United States and the European Union.
According to Georgia’s international partners, the Global War Party is a fabricated theory and a narrative propagated by the Kremlin.
It is important to note that there are no sources regarding the Global War Party other than those provided by the members of “Georgian Dream.”
- Only Donald Trump, among U.S. presidents, actively discusses the concept of the “Deep State.”
It is also false to assert that the term “Deep State” has been used by all American presidents; such claims are not supported by open sources. Only Donald Trump has actively used the phrase and continues to do so.
The term gained significant popularity in the U.S. during and after the 2016 presidential election, largely due to Donald Trump’s active usage of it. Trump has given the term a conspiratorial tone, frequently claiming that his goal is to eliminate the Deep State. He described the Deep State as “an alleged shadowy group of powerful bureaucrats and officials who many believe wield excessive influence over government policy, regardless of the elected administration.” Trump has accused the Deep State of sabotaging both the election and his presidency.
- Lieberman did not mention the “Global War Party” during the interview.
Mamuka Areshidze also said that former Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Avigdor Lieberman mentioned the Global War Party and criticized Netanyahu. Presumably, Areshidze is referring to Lieberman’s Russian-language interview on October 2, in which he said that Netanyahu is using the war for his own narrow political purposes, although he did not mention the term Global War Party.