Transformacja gospodarcza a społeczna odpowiedzialność elit biznesu w Gruzji [Economic Transformation and the Social Responsibility of Business Elites in Georgia]

Corporate social responsibility in Georgia is a very disputable phenomenon, mostly because of the tribal character of the region’s politi-cal transformation. Business elites do not cooperate with society, but place themselves above it. Exception from this general rule may be made of situations when they strive for political legitimacy (B. Iwaniszwili). Nowadays business in Georgia is not interested in developing corporate social responsibility. Georgian businessman perceive it more as a significant expense than an investment. Public authorities are deprived of sufficient control over private business sector to force the implementa-tion of riles of corporate responsibility. Georgia is devoid of an essential fundament for corporate respon-sibility – civil society. Economy is treated there as a system of inexhaust-ible resources [4: 343], which may be endlessly exploited, while giving at the same time nothing in return. The treatment of society and democracy by business elites is highly instrumental [8: 160]. Thus “the interests of the ruling elites constitute a point of reference to the already realized or still wanted paradigms of modernization, and not the other way” [8: 192]. Business elites and society function in the environment impressionable by tribalism and clan politics, which influences the effects of transformation processes, inter alia: non-market distribution of assets, quasi-militarization of economic relations and tendency to sustain monopolies at any cost [32: 4]. Business in Georgia is taking advantage of the regression caused by the economic transformation. It builds its own position against a background of such transformation. Thus the reduction of unemploy-ment, preventing further collapse of the agricultural sector and providing political stability are simply unprofitable. Such phenomenon as corrup-tion, clan structure or nepotism dominate corporate social responsibility in Georgia. Georgia faces strong tendencies to appropriation of power and putting group interests before the public good. In human resources loyalty displaces professionalism, disqualifying any attempts to construct and realize effective projects of economic transformation. Counter-elites are internally polarized, and often involved in cor-porate interests, not having enough power to put themselves through the negative manifestations of economic transformation.

More Info: M. Sikora-Gaca, Transformacja gospodarcza a społeczna odpowiedzialność elit biznesu w Gruzji, „Transformacje” 2014, nr 1-2, s. 412-423.