Social inequality and conflict of agrarian policy: Shida Kartli case

Abstract

Social inequality as a starting point for conflict in the context of agrarian policy of the State (on the example of Shida Kartli) Georgia is rich in agricultural resources but faces many problems and challenges. Due to the loss or restriction to access to agricultural resources, such processes develop as a violation of the rights of land owners and users, conflict with local communities, Etc. which in turn threatens the stability of the sector at the local and national level. Food security is also at risk. Agriculture is essential for Georgia from the economic point of view and the point of view of national security. Because of that, the full development of the agricultural sector is one of the guarantees of overcoming poverty in the country. Small-scale farms with limited opportunities for diversification dominate the agricultural sector of Georgia. For this type of farm, it is a rather difficult task to respond to increased productivity requirements such as lack of capital investments; recession of the world economy; underdeveloped agricultural infrastructure, the introduction of low-cost, subsidized products by importers to the consumer market, lack of appropriate educational, research and training system. The study presents the existing problems between large and small landowners in the Shida Kartli region, as well as the inequality caused by the presence of opportunities, unequal resources, and lack of knowledge and experience. These problems severely hinder the development of the agricultural system. As a part of the conducted research, I evaluated the policy implemented by the Georgian State toward the farming sector. As a result, the weak and strong points in the sector were highlighted. The research aims to study the social inequality between the actors of the agricultural sector as a result of the implementation of the state agricultural policy and the resulting tension between the State and the rural population, as well as between small, medium, and large farmers. Following the set goal, the following tasks were defined: • Discussing the concept of social inequality and studying the causes of social tensions caused by unequal access to resources in the sector at a theoretical level; • Farmers evaluate the effectiveness of the State's agricultural policy; • Dissatisfaction with the State's agricultural policy of the actors involved in the agricultural sector leads to alienation from the State and related tensions between the actors, as well as the State and the actors. By the objective, the research question is: 1. To what extent does the policy implemented by the State in the agricultural field contribute to the creation and deepening of social inequality among the actors operating in this sector; 2. Does this process become a source of conflict between farmers of different sizes and between farmers and the State?   A triangulation approach to the research was used to fill the set goal and objectives. The study implemented a literature review, document analysis, in-depth interviews with experts, and a quantitative survey of farmers as research methods. Within the research framework, the actors involved in the processes of relations between the State and the rural population, the strategies developed, the resources used, and the projects implemented by the Georgian government to develop the agricultural sector are studied. The reasons that hinder the development process of the sector and reduce its productivity are identified.   To answer the research questions, the existing scientific literature on the agricultural sector was processed, the agricultural practices of different countries were studied, experts in the field were interviewed, and a small quantitative survey was conducted with farmers of different sizes.   The main findings of the research show: unplanned events, inefficient policies, lack of professional staff, outflow of young people from the countryside, etc. These problems appear as a source of conflict and tension and severely hinder the development of the agricultural system. Other findings include antagonistic sentiments between large and small landowners, including a sense of inequality due to opportunities, unequal resources, and lack of knowledge and experience, that in many cases become a source of conflict and tension, further impeding system development. The research revealed that the actions implemented by the government structures and the initiatives close to reality increase the sector's productivity. Unfortunately, the last is rarely found in current reality.