THE ROLE OF CROSS-REGIONAL COOPERATION IN OVERCOMING INTRA-REGIONAL DISPROPORTIONS IN POST-CRISIS GEORGIA

Abstract

Regionalism and regional studies are one of the most topical issues and research directions at the current stage. Therefore, it is quite difficult to find an issue in the relevant space that has not yet been studied by Georgian or foreign researchers. However, it should be noted here that the rapidly changing world full of contradictions will constantly activate new challenges, which require re-examination of the problem that has been analyzed many times and its study in relation to the changed environmental conditions. The aim of the present paper was to study the discussions related to the expediency of further regionalization in Georgia, strengthening of inter-regional ties, and the analysis of the current processes, to determine the expediency of transforming its results into the reality of our country, to outline the future perspectives of rapid post-crisis rehabilitation and development, and to develop appropriate recommendations. In the process of working on this article, as methodological material, the authors reviewed research papers, analytical materials, reports and regulatory documents of governmental or international organizations, and others that were related to the problem posed in the paper. We paid special attention to the examples of the Baltic states, the Scandinavian countries, and the Eastern Partnership countries, because we think that studying and sharing their experiences can positively affect the development and implementation of relevant policies in our country, in one hand, and the outline of the perspectives of regional cooperation, in other hand.

Keywords

• regional disproportions;
• cros-regional cooperation;
• new regionalizm