Political Economy of Georgia’s Reforms in 2004–2012: The Ten Commandments

Abstract

This chapter explains the 10 principles underpinning the political economy of the state-building process in Georgia in 2004–2012: hands-on, disruptive and transformative leadership, clarity on the overarching geopolitical and developmental vector, sense of urgency, consensus around a single economic paradigm , critical mass of people willing to take individual risks to get things done, consolidation of the political landscape, zero tolerance to crime and corruption, strengthening of the system of the national security and the overhaul of the system of the law enforcement and of the administration of justice , awareness of the importance of irreversibility of an institutional transformation and of quality public services , commitment to remaining beyond reproach, active outreach to manage popular expectations and to preserve the international good will .