Georgia is a small country located in the Caucasus, which gained independence in April 1991 after several decades of socialistic structures of the Soviet Union. Like all other post Soviet countries, Georgia had to face the challenges of the transition process towards democracy and market economy. Today, more than 15 years after the beginning of the transition process, a lot has changed. This book portrays the development of Georgia in this difficult period. It gives an overview of the experiences Georgia has gone through during transition. The first part of this book deals with the jurisprudential and (security) political aspects of transformation. The section covers the problems concerning statehood and democratization in Georgia as well as electoral procedures. The second part of the anthology deals with the challenges arising from the transition from a planned economy toward market oriented economic structures, which Georgia has to face. Land use change and environmental problems are the main topics of the book's third part. Additionally, the book covers issues regarding climate change.

The publication of this book coincides with the second anniversary of the armed conflict between Russia and Georgia on August 8-12, 2008, now dubbed the Five Day War. The conflict was triggered by Georgia's ambitious and nationalistic president, Mikhail Saakashvili, who attempted a "blitzkrieg" to conquer the former Georgian autonomy of South Ossetia, which had proclaimed independence. That attempt led to a military intervention by Russia, which acted as the guarantor of peace in the region, and the first "official war" between Russia and one of the former Soviet republics. This work contains six essays, from a primarily Russian perspective, which provide an in-depth analysis of the political, social, economic, and military context for and causes of the war, the nature of wartime military operations, the human and material costs of the brief struggle, and the war's likely implications for the future.

Analyzes security challenges facing Georgia since a more democratic government took over in 2003, including secessionist crises within its borders and regional instability in the Caucasus.