Uneven Regional Development as a Significant Challenge Among Georgia's Socio-Economic Problems

A significant part of the country's socio-economic development challenges is focused on addressing the existing inequalities and disparities between regions. The uneven development of territorial-administrative units in Georgia and the diversity of socio-economic problems are a 'legacy' of the Soviet economic system. After gaining independence, the management and planning of territorial units, along with a number of other reforms, were poorly implemented. As a result of these mistakes, the economic development inequalities between regions deepened and became more pronounced. To the existing socio-economic problems were added entirely new ethnic conflicts and separatist movements, encouraged and „suggested“ by external forces… In the 1990s, these events significantly worsened the socio-economic situation of several regions. The problem became widespread, giving rise to depressed, crisis-stricken, and conflict-affected territories. As a result of the August 2008 Russia-Georgia war, the problems further intensified, and the socio-economic and political life of several regions became significantly more complicated. Terms such as: occupied, border’ strategic, and potentially dangerous territories have been used for some time. To overcome the existing problem, the country's strategic development programs need to pay particular and greater attention to the main and targeted measures aimed at 'mitigating' the causes of inequality among territorial-administrative units. It is essential not only to identify the problems but also to resolve them and eliminate them in a short period of time. Regional development inequalities have a significant impact on the country's economic growth and, consequently, on its economic development indicators. Alongside local-territorial capacities, the country's national values, as well as geopolitical developments and changes, must be taken into account.