Challenges of the Implementation of Total Defence (Military/Civil Defence) in Georgia

Abstract

This article discusses the importance of the total defence concept for strengthening the defence and security of Georgia and focuses on the significance of the military and civil defence as the components of total defence.
The ongoing processes in the region and national security challenges of Georgia indicate that it is important to build solid foundations in defence in order to maintain the defence and security of the country. Currently, Georgia, in terms of threats, is one of the most vulnerable countries in the region. Therefore, it is advisable to develop a defence concept that addresses the overall national potential of a small nation to protect the national interests of the country.
Unlike other components of the total defence concept in Georgia, promoting the military and civil defence is a challenge because the population of the country is multi-ethnic and multi-religious. Ethnical minorities have different attitudes regarding the duties of citizenship that in itself leads to the problem of uniting them under the same ideology. Developing a system of awareness along with the training of the population in total defence, and specifically, in civil defence, can be considered as the only effective way to solve the problem. Military defence requires slight changes regarding the improvement of the compulsory military service and reserve systems