ჟურნალი „თავდაცვა და მეცნიერება“ არის საერთაშორისო რეფერირებადი და რეცენზირებადი, ღია წვდომის სამეცნიერო ჟურნალი (შემდგომში ჟურნალი), რომელიც ქვეყნდება ყოველწლიურად ინგლისურ ენაზე, სსიპ - დავით აღმაშენებლის სახელობის საქართველოს ეროვნული თავდაცვის აკადემიის მიერ. ჟურნალში გამოაქვეყნებულ რეფერირებად და რეცენზირებულ სტატიებს, მნიშვნელოვანი წვლილი შეაქვთ, როგორც თავდაცვისა და უსაფრთხოების სფეროში, ასევე მეცნიერების სხვადასხვა დარგებში, როგორიცაა სოციალური, ჰუმანიტარული, ზუსტი და საბუნებისმეტყველო მიმართულებები და ა.შ. ჟურნალი წარმოადგენს ინტერდისციპლინარულ და საერთაშორისო გამოცემას, რომელიც განკუთვნილია თავისი სამეცნიერო აუდიენციისა და ავტორებისათვის. „თავდაცვისა და მეცნიერების“ ჟურნალის მიზანია ხელი შეუწყოს მრავალფეროვან და სანდო სამეცნიერო კვლევებს, ასევე მათ გავრცელებას სხვადასხვა მიდგომებისა და მეთოდების დაცვით. ჟურნალს აქვს საერთაშორისო სტანდარტული სერიული ნომრები, როგორც ელექტრონული (E-ISSN), ისე ბეჭდვითი (ISSN) გამოცემებისთვის. ჟურნალში განთავსებულ თითოეულ ნაშრომს იდენტიფიცირებისათვის მინიჭებული აქვს უნუკალური კოდი DOI (Digital Object Identifier – ციფრული ობიექტის იდენტიფიკატორი). ჟურნალს „თავდაცვა და მეცნიერებას“ მინიჭებული აქვს ევრაზიის სამეცნიერო ჟურნალის ინდექსი (ESJI). ჟურნალს ჰყავს საერთაშორისო სარედაქციო კოლეგია. სამეცნიერო სტატიების გამოქვეყნება უფასოა. ტექსტის განხილვა და რედაქტირება სრულად ფინანსდება სსიპ დავით აღმაშენებლის სახელობის საქართველოს ეროვნული თავდაცვის აკადემიის მიერ.
David Aghmashenebeli National Defence Academy of Georgia
The Impact of the Military Industry on National Security
In the contemporary international system, national security remains a paramount priority. Its enhancement is contingent upon the convergence of political and economic stability alongside military and technological capabilities. In this regard, the military industry serves as a fundamental pillar of a state's sovereignty, strategic independence, and defense sustainability. This paper aims to analyze the role of the military industry in the systemic reinforcement of national security, examining the circumstances under which its influence may emerge as both a stabilizing element and a potential source of risk. The study is grounded in a comprehensive analysis of both theoretical frameworks and empirical sources, including the security theories articulated by Waltz, Nye, and Buzan, as well as contemporary examples of military-industrial policies practiced by various states. The findings indicate that the military industry exerts a multifaceted impact on national security through enhanced defense capabilities, strategic autonomy, technological advancement, and economic stimulation. Furthermore, the research reveals that excessive politicization or alignment with private interests can precipitate imbalances within the state's system. In conclusion, the military industry should be regarded not merely as a tool of aggressive policy but as a mechanism for fostering peace, stability, and sovereign development. Its effectiveness is predicated upon political will, economic resources, and technological expertise, which collectively shape the state's position within the global security landscape.
საავტორო უფლებები (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The role of strategic management in modern organizations
Strategic management is the cornerstone of success in modern organizations. Effective implementation of strategic management, the formation of an organizational vision, continuous analysis and adaptation to changes in the external environment help companies not only solve today's problems but also establish a sustainable position in the future. Strategic management is the key to achieving long-term success for an organization. It encompasses environmental analysis, goal setting, strategy development, and implementation. This article explores the fundamental concepts of strategic management and its significance in the contemporary business environment. This paper describes the strategic management process, which involves analyzing the internal and external environment, utilizing SWOT analysis, setting goals, and developing strategies. The paper also emphasizes the importance of strategic management in creating a competitive advantage for the organization and ensuring its sustainability. The article also discusses the challenges of strategic management, such as globalization, technological advancements, and sustainability requirements. Moreover, it emphasizes that strategic management is a continuous process that requires adaptation to a changing environment. The paper also argues that strategic management is a critical component of success in modern organizations, aimed at effectively utilizing organizational resources and achieving long-term goals in a competitive environment. In today's context, strategic management is not merely about creating a long-term plan but also about continuously analyzing and adapting it to the prevailing internal and external conditions. The author discusses the key elements of strategic management and notes that strategic analysis is one of the main stages in the process of strategy formulation. This stage involves analyzing both the internal and external environment of the organization. It is important for the organization to identify current and future trends, changes in the market, technology, customer demands, and legislation. SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) is one of the most widely used tools in this process. It is mentioned that SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) is one of the most widely used and effective tools used during strategic analysis. This analysis helps the organization to: Strengths – Identify and realize its internal strengths, such as technological advantages, resources, experience, skills, or a good reputation. Weaknesses – Recognize the organization's internal weaknesses, such as insufficient resources, procedural chaos, or lack of adequate experience. Opportunities – Analyze external opportunities in the environment, such as market growth, the adoption of new technologies, or regulatory changes that may benefit the organization. Threats – Pay attention to external threats, such as increased competition, economic recession, or new legislation that could impact the organization’s operations. The study also delves into the various stages of strategy formulation, including the development of the strategy itself. It emphasizes that during this phase, the organization defines its primary objectives, directions, and aspirations. This may encompass expansion strategies, introducing new products or services, or diversifying operations. The strategy outlines the activities that enable the organization to compete and solidify its position in the market. Furthermore, the study analyzes that strategy implementation is more than just a plan; it requires concrete actions. This process involves allocating resources, making decisions, and achieving specific objectives. For successful implementation, it is essential that all members are well-informed and that continuous monitoring is in place. The article also delves into the challenges faced by strategic management, such as globalization, technological advancements, and sustainability requirements. Moreover, it emphasizes that strategic management is an ongoing process that necessitates adaptation to a dynamic environment. The significance of strategic management in creating a competitive advantage and ensuring the organization's sustainability is underscored.
Large Language Models and Their Abuse in High-Level Social Engineering Campaigns
The rapid evolution and widespread accessibility of Large Language Models (LLMs) has transformed the cyber threat landscape. While LLMs deliver major benefits to productivity, code acceleration, knowledge augmentation, and domain translation, they simultaneously enable a new generation of high-level, linguistically precise cyber deception operations. This paper examines the shift in social engineering strategy induced by generative models, analyzing how adversaries now leverage AI to produce contextually aligned, psychologically adaptive, multilingual attacks at scale — bypassing traditional anti-phishing controls. The paper also conceptually integrates LLM-based social engineering with emerging research showing adversarial AI misuse inside CI/CD supply chains, demonstrating that human trust manipulation and machine trust manipulation are converging into a single strategic threat dimension. The result is a unified adversarial model, where linguistic credibility becomes a scalable commodity weapon across human and automated domains. This research proposes a taxonomy of LLM-augmented social engineering attack classes, maps cognitive persuasion levers to MITRE ATT&CK technique paths, and defines a dual-plane evaluation methodology measuring both behavioral technique disruption and cognitive persuasion disruption. Findings suggest that defensive strategy must shift toward AI-augmented detection, adversarial linguistics analysis, supply-chain integrity reinforcement, and continuous cognitive resilience engineering.
The Role of Critical Infrastructure in Regional Security: An Analysis of Georgia in the Context of the Caucasus Region
This paper examines the current state of critical infrastructure and the security challenges faced by Georgia and the South Caucasus region. In accordance with Georgian legislation, critical infrastructure encompasses both public and private assets that provide services in sectors such as energy, water, agriculture, healthcare, finance, and communications. Hydropower serves as the cornerstone of the country's energy sector. The future of the Enguri hydroelectric power plant remains uncertain due to the situation in occupied Abkhazia, and the oil and gas pipelines (BTC and South Caucasus Pipeline) are potential targets for terrorists in the event of hostilities in the region. The East-West Highway is considered a critical investment in transportation infrastructure. The 2008 war highlighted the vulnerability of the country's digital infrastructure in terms of cybersecurity. Additionally, the regional context presents a complex power rivalry: Armenia is pursuing closer ties with Western nations, Azerbaijan aims to enhance economic diversification, and Russia, Turkey, and Iran are actively seeking to preserve their influence in the area. Special emphasis is placed on the Zangezur (Syunik) corridor. Within this geopolitical framework, the Zangezur corridor, which links the western part of Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan, has emerged as a significant issue of concern for regional and global security.
Georgia's Multi-Vector Choice: Balancing Between China and the West
This research examines the strategic dilemmas facing Georgia in its deepening cooperation with China within the context of global power competition and Western security architecture integration. As China's Belt and Road Initiative expands into the South Caucasus, small states like Georgia face a critical challenge: how to leverage economic opportunities from the East while maintaining security guarantees from the West. The study analyzes whether a balanced and institutionally strengthened strategic model of Georgia-China cooperation can simultaneously enhance economic benefits and ensure compatibility with Western security structures. The research employs neorealist theoretical frameworks, particularly focusing on hedging strategies and multi-vector foreign policy approaches suitable for small states operating between competing great powers. Through comparative analysis of Vietnam, South Korea, and Estonia—countries that have successfully balanced economic engagement with China while maintaining Western security orientations—the study identifies key principles for managing asymmetric relationships without falling into structural dependence. The analysis reveals three critical dimensions of Georgia-China relations: economic cooperation, which offers trade and infrastructure benefits but carries risks of debt dependency and political leverage; technological engagement, particularly concerning 5G infrastructure and cybersecurity, where Chinese involvement raises sovereignty and data security concerns incompatible with NATO and EU standards; and geopolitical implications, where deepening ties with Beijing could be perceived as strategic drift by Western partners upon whom Georgia depends for security guarantees against Russian aggression. The research demonstrates that economic cooperation with China becomes beneficial only under conditions of robust institutional oversight, transparent governance, competitive procurement processes, and clear strategic boundaries that prevent economic ties from transforming into political influence channels. The study emphasizes that technological integration with Chinese companies operating under state control poses critical risks to Georgia's information sovereignty and long-term compatibility with Western security systems. Furthermore, analysis confirms that China cannot serve as a security counterweight to Russia in the South Caucasus, making Western security architecture indispensable for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. The main conclusion supports the hypothesis that a balanced and institutionally strengthened strategic model—characterized by transparent governance, multi-vector partnerships, and clear "red lines" in sensitive sectors—can enable Georgia to derive economic benefits from China while preserving strategic autonomy and Western security alignment. However, this requires Georgia to implement strict institutional controls, particularly in critical infrastructure and technology sectors; maintain full synchronization with EU and NATO security standards; and adopt a hedging strategy that diversifies economic partnerships without compromising core security priorities. The study recommends that Georgia: (1) institutionally separate economic cooperation with China from security policy, which must remain firmly anchored in Western architecture; (2) strengthen transparency and oversight mechanisms for all Chinese investment and infrastructure projects; (3) align technological policy fully with EU and US security standards, especially regarding 5G and critical infrastructure; and (4) deepen coordination with Western partners to ensure foreign policy positioning does not create strategic ambiguity. The research concludes that for small states in competitive geopolitical environments, survival depends not on choosing between great powers but on maintaining strategic autonomy through carefully calibrated balance—securing economic development opportunities while preserving sovereignty and security guarantees from reliable partners.
The Role of the West in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
This article offers an in-depth, multidimensional analysis of the role played by Western actors -the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and NATO -in the full-scale Russia-Ukraine war, now widely regarded as the most consequential geopolitical rupture since the end of the Second World War. Although Western states are not direct belligerents, their strategic decisions, policy choices, and coordinated (or at times fragmented) actions have profoundly shaped the military, economic, and diplomatic trajectory of the conflict. The war has emerged as the principal arena in which the resilience of the so-called “rules-based international order” is tested against the revisionist ambitions of a nuclear-armed authoritarian state. The study employs three principal theoretical frameworks -realism, liberal internationalism, and the collective security paradigm -to examine Western behaviour across key military, financial, political, and normative dimensions. Realism sheds light on shifting regional power balances and recalibrated deterrence principles; liberal internationalism highlights the imperative of defending sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democratic agency; and the collective security model elucidates NATO’s evolving role as it balances between non-escalation and robust deterrence. The article provides a detailed assessment of Western assistance -ranging from the unprecedented scale of U.S. military and intelligence support, to the EU’s macro-financial and energy-sector interventions, the U.K.’s proactive defence partnership with Ukraine, and NATO’s reinforcement of the Eastern Flank. It also evaluates the long-term impact of Western sanctions, noting that although restrictive measures have substantially impaired Russia’s access to critical technologies and global financial markets, the Kremlin has partially offset these effects through alternative trade channels, third-country networks, and wartime economic restructuring. A core part of the analysis examines the “28-point peace plan” associated with the Trump administration, which proposes a radically different model for a post-war settlement. The plan challenges several foundational principles of Western diplomacy, imposes extensive limitations on Ukraine’s long-term sovereignty, implicitly legitimatizes territorial changes achieved by force, and diminishes NATO’s strategic role. As argued, such an approach establishes a dangerous precedent by normalizing territorial revisionism in the international system. Ultimately, the study concludes that the role of the West in the conflict is both indispensable and structurally constrained. While Western support has been vital to preserving Ukraine’s statehood and preventing Russia’s rapid victory, internal divisions, delayed decision-making, sanction leakages, and growing societal fatigue pose significant challenges. The outcome of the war and the future architecture of European and global security will depend on the West’s ability to sustain a unified, proactive, and strategically coherent long-term approach.
The New Reality of U.S.–Iran Relations and Stability in the Middle East: Challenges and Opportunities
This article examines the evolving relationship between the United States and Iran and its impact on regional stability in the Middle East. While historically characterized by antagonism and mistrust, the bilateral relationship is now shaped by new geopolitical realities, including Iran’s growing regional influence, the rise of multipolarity, and shifting alliances among Gulf states. The study examines the evolution of U.S.–Iran relations from the 1979 revolution to the present, emphasizing how these dynamics intersect with conflict zones in the Gulf, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and the Israel–Palestine region. The paper concludes by exploring policy options that could support regional stability, emphasizing diplomatic engagement, multilateral frameworks, and crisis management strategies.
The Evolution of Drones and the Counter-Drone Systems challenges in the field of contemporary warfare
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have emerged as the fastest-growing and most transformative technological development in modern warfare since the introduction of tanks and aircraft in the early 20th century. Originally designed for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering, drones have evolved into cost-effective, highly lethal platforms capable of reshaping tactical, operational, and strategic dynamics on the battlefield. The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War (2020) became the first widely recognized “drone war,” demonstrating that relatively inexpensive UAVs could decisively neutralize traditional armored formations, air defense networks, and other high-value military assets. Following this, the Russia–Ukraine War (2022–2025) scaled the phenomenon to a global level, where drones assumed not only tactical relevance but also operational-strategic significance, influencing force deployment, campaign planning, and defense-industrial production. By November 2025, first-person view (FPV) and kamikaze drones, costing between $400 and $1,500, accounted for 62–70% of confirmed equipment losses in Ukraine and over 90% in Nagorno-Karabakh. This creates an unprecedented economic asymmetry, with cost ratios reaching up to 1:25000, challenging long-standing assumptions of force parity and effectiveness. Conventional counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) have repeatedly proven insufficient against autonomous, fiber-optic-guided, and swarm-capable drones, exposing critical vulnerabilities in contemporary air defense doctrines. This paper conducts a detailed comparative analysis of the two conflicts, highlighting technological innovations, economic drivers, and tactical doctrines behind drone effectiveness. It examines the limitations of current C-UAS technologies and proposes a conceptual framework for a next-generation, multi-layered defensive architecture. The study underscores the profound strategic implications of drone proliferation and provides actionable insights for military planners, defense industries, and policymakers seeking to address the evolving challenges posed by unmanned aerial systems in modern warfare.
Russia’s Geography and Its Influence on its Geopolitics
ABSTRACT This article provides an extended analysis of how Russia’s geographical characteristics profoundly shape its national security priorities, its strategic culture, and the tools it employs in foreign policy. As the world’s largest state, spanning two continents and eleven time zones, Russia faces a combination of structural vulnerabilities and exceptional geopolitical opportunities. Its exposure on the western plains, where no natural barriers slow military advance, has historically subjected it to catastrophic invasions, reinforcing the understanding that strategic depth and the establishment of buffer zones are essential for national survival. This perception continues to inform Russian actions in Eastern Europe and the post-Soviet space. Moreover, the distribution of Russia’s population, concentrated predominantly on the European side of the country, creates a geographic mismatch between human capital and natural resources. Siberia and the Arctic contain immense reserves of oil, gas, and minerals but remain sparsely populated, expensive to govern, and militarily challenging to defend. Maintaining sovereignty and economic control over these regions pushes Moscow to pursue assertive internal and external policies, particularly as climate change and foreign interest increase competition over Arctic routes. Maritime constraints add another strategic dimension. Russia possesses few warm-water ports, and those it relies upon — such as Sevastopol in Crimea — are central to its naval doctrine and global outreach. Limited access to the world’s oceans reinforces Russia’s focus on land power and creates pressure to exert influence over neighboring states that serve as geographic chokepoints or transit corridors. Russian involvement in Syria, increased Arctic militarization, and persistent frictions around the Black Sea all reflect these structural maritime imperatives. Methodologically, the research is based on a geopolitical analytical approach using qualitative methods: historical comparison, content analysis of policy papers and strategic doctrines, and case studies of Russia’s interventions and influence in Ukraine, the Caucasus, and the Arctic. These cases demonstrate how Russian leaders translate geographic challenges into strategic behavior, relying on both coercive tools and narratives of protecting national identity and spheres of privileged interests. The findings indicate that geography shapes not only Russia’s threat perception but also its aspirations to remain a great power capable of influencing developments across Eurasia. Strategic culture, national identity, and policies of territorial control emerge as adaptive responses to the state’s spatial environment. Geography imposes enduring incentives on Moscow to maintain military readiness, centralize governance, and resist the political drift of neighboring states toward rival power blocs. In conclusion, Russia can be understood as a power continually negotiating between the vulnerabilities imposed by its geography and the ambitions enabled by it. Any analysis of Russian foreign and security policy must therefore recognize geography as a foundational determinant of Russian behavior — a determinant that is deeply embedded in strategic decision-making and highly resistant to change over time.
Investment Environment: Risks, Challenges and Development Opportunities for Georgia
Investments are one of the important components of the modern economic system. It determines both the economic and social development of countries. Investment is directly related to capital accumulation, employment growth, and technological progress. The implementation of large-scale projects is a prerequisite for strengthening the economy for a small country. Due to Georgia's geopolitical location, there is a great potential for the development of sectors such as logistics, tourism, and agriculture. The attractiveness of Georgia's investment environment is confirmed by international ratings. They evaluate the flexible tax system in the country, investment promotion programs, and the investment climate in general. Therefore, the priority of the Georgian state is to create a favorable environment for investors. This article offers an analysis of risk factors that hinder investment activity in the country. Such risk factors include global economic and political instability, a need to improve the legislative framework, lack of infrastructure with international standards, bureaucratic procedures, less access to finance, rapidly growing technological progress, etc. The study is based on international ratings and confirms that despite the presence of negative risk factors, Georgia has taken significant steps to improve the business environment, however, the conclusion states that foreign investors in Georgia face systemic and institutional difficulties, which include administrative, structural and political factors. Problems with accessing foreign markets, compliance with international standards, logistical costs, and inefficiency of export promotion instruments are the risk factors analyzed in the study. The process of managing these risks requires the state to refine its policies, ensure regulatory stability, and increase institutional support. All of this will lead to a strengthening of the country's investment attractiveness in the long-term and will contribute to sustainable economic development.
The March 1921 Battle for Batumi and the People's Guard
The First Democratic Republic of Georgia, which tried to maintain its independence, found itself in a difficult situation at the beginning of 1921. In February and in March, Georgia was surrounded by Soviet Russia. The 11th Red Army attacked from the southeast, the 9th Army from the north, through the Mamisoni Pass, and the 13th Army from the Black Sea coast. Budyonny and Zhloba's cavalry units also joined the fight against Georgia. In addition there was the threat from the Ottoman Empire from the southwest.[1] While Turkey was formally presenting itself as a "friend" of Georgia, it was simultaneously trying to seize the city of Batumi and the Batumi region. When „... Georgia was tied up on three sides in the battle with the Russian whale, at that time the Ottoman government promised Georgia’s alliance and at the same time silently advanced its army towards the Artaani region and seized Georgian territory…“[2] This is confirmed by the information reflected in the “Selected Notes” of the then Chairman of the Mejlis of Muslim Georgia (the governing body of Batumi and the Batumi region), Memed Abashidze that a delegation of the Angora government appeared in Batumi and suggested him, as the Chairman of the Mejlis, that they review the issue of joining Georgia and, on behalf of the Mejlis, issue a resolution that the Batumi region would be transferred to the Angora government on the basis of autonomy.[3] Unfortunately, the democratic government of Georgia realized the Kemalists’ treachery too late. Before emigrating, Noe Zhordania said in a statement to the population that a new issue had arisen: should Batumi be given to Georgia, even if the Bolsheviks rule there, or should it remain with the Ottomans? There could be no two opinions on this question. Their decision was that in any case Batumi should remain with Georgia, not with the Ottomans.[4] The two imperialist states (Turkey and Russia), which appeared on the world stage with the slogans of democracy and socialism, in fact, acted completely oppositely. This article concerns the period when the above-mentioned countries, with their insidious plan, divided the territory of the first democratic Georgia. The article will present the relations between democratic Georgia and Turkey and Russia, and the struggle for the liberation of Batumi, where the problematic issue of the role of the People’s Guard will be presented. [1] ოთარ თურმანიძე, საქართველოს ძალდატანებითი გასაბჭოება და ბრძოლა აჭარის დედა სამშობლოდან ჩამოცილების წინააღმდეგ (1921 წლის თებერვალ-მარტი), წიგნში: სამხრეთ-დასავლეთ საქართველოს ისტორიის ნარკვევები, აჭარა, ტომი IV, ბათუმის შოთა რუსთაველის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი, ნიკო ბერძენიშვილის ჰუმანიტარულ და სოციალურ მეცნიერებათა მიმართულება, ბათუმი, 2012, გვ. 34. [2] გრიგოლ ლორთქიფანიძე, ფიქრები საქართველოზე, თბილისის უნივერსიტეტის გამომცემლობა,თბილისი, 1995, გვ. 217. [3] მემედ აბაშიძე, რჩეული ნაწერები, თბ., 1967, გვ. 87. [4] ნოე ჟორდანიას მიმართვა „საქართველოს ქალაქებს, ერობებს, თემებს“ ბათუმის საკითხის გამო, მთავრობის მიერ საქართველოს ტერიტორიის დატოვების შესახებ (ჩანაწერი ფანქრით), 24.02.1921, სცსა, ფ.2113 ან. 1, ს.43, ფურც.1.
The Challenges of Iran’s Foreign Policy after the Islamic Revolution
This article examines the transformation of Iran's foreign policy and international relations in the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It also reconstructs the pre-revolutionary period, focusing on U.S.-Iran relations and demonstrating the extent to which the two states were bound by a close strategic partnership. The study analyzes the reorientation of Iran's external behavior following the Revolution, a process that began in earnest with the U.S. embassy hostage crisis and has continued to shape bilateral relations up to the present day. The article places particular emphasis on the evolution of U.S.-Iran relations, the formation and consolidation of anti-American ideology, and the gradual institutionalization of a sanctions-based regime. It offers an in-depth examination of how pre-revolutionary Iran, under the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, came to occupy the position of one of the United States' principal strategic partners in the Middle East. This partnership rested on far-reaching political, economic, and military cooperation, including U.S.-UK involvement in the 1953 coup, support for the peaceful development of nuclear energy under the "Atoms for Peace" program, substantial American investment in Iran's oil sector, and extensive military-technical collaboration. The article also explores the post-revolutionary period, focusing on the systematic dissemination of the Islamic Revolution's ideas both within Iran and across the broader region. At its core, the article seeks to explain how profoundly Iran's external orientation was transformed in the wake of the Islamic Revolution. U.S.-Iran relations shifted from a de facto strategic partnership to a relationship characterized by open hostility and rivalry. From the hostage crisis onward, successive U.S. administrations progressively tightened sanctions against Iran. Under these conditions, the post-revolutionary leadership in Tehran has grounded the country's foreign policy in explicitly anti-American and anti-Western rhetoric and practice, while simultaneously deploying this ideology domestically as a key instrument for consolidating personalized, centralized rule.
The Impact of Hybrid Threats on National Security: Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention and Transformation
The contemporary security environment is characterized by the growing dominance of hybrid threats, where military and non-military (cyber, information, economic) instruments are simultaneously utilized to dismantle the internal stability of an opposing state. This paper, from the perspective of the Conflict Studies discipline, analyzes the impact of hybrid warfare on national security, focusing on mechanisms for conflict prevention and long-term transformation. The core objective of the research is to substantiate that the ultimate target of hybrid aggression is social solidarity and institutional legitimacy, which necessitates the transformation of the defense concept from purely military deterrence to national resilience building. The research employs a qualitative analysis method, including frameworks from escalation theory and conflict transformation. Key findings reveal that effective prevention requires the use of strategic communications as a means of cognitive defense, which reduces society’s media-vulnerability. The most effective long-term response is resilience building, which strengthens institutional accountability and social cohesion, thereby causing the coercive instruments of the hybrid actor to lose political power. The paper recommends rethinking defense doctrine, where social cohesion is defined as critical infrastructure. The guarantee of national security in the hybrid era is the transformation of the state-society relationship and the creation of a strong, internal front.
India’s Foriegn plolicy in Multipolar World
The modern international system is in a process of transition, which is changing the political behavior of both the status quo and the rising powers. India is emerging as one of the great powers whose foreign policy is based on the principle of strategic autonomy and aims to balance relations with other great powers. The article aims to answer the following research questions: 1. What impact have the tariffs imposed by the United States had on India's foreign policy? 2. How does India allocate political priorities in a multipolar system and what is the role of the doctrine of "strategic autonomy"? India is trying to simultaneously maintain a security partnership with the United States, energy and defense cooperation with Russia, and control economic interdependence with China. However, the growing confrontation between the US and China, as well as Western sanctions against Russia, are reducing the space for maneuver necessary for India's strategic autonomy. India's modern foreign policy is a multi-vector approach aimed at protecting national interests in the conditions of a new uncertain multipolar order. India participates in both Western formats (QUAD) and broader associations (BRICS, SCO), thereby trying to satisfy its own interests. Its main goal is to promote the country's economic growth. As a result, its economy has been growing steadily in the past few years. Jaishankar believes that strategic autonomy implies multilateral partnerships, including with opposing powers. This is precisely what explains India's membership in radically different organizations. In 2025, the Trump administration imposed fifty percent tariffs on India for its oil purchases from the Russian Federation. However, relations with Washington in the field of self-defense have reached a new level after the parties signed a ten-year agreement.
Influence Of Manager Leader And Toxic Leader Characteristics On the Success Of Organization
This study examines all stages that a ‘’manager-leader’’ must navigate, along with the essential actions required for developing into an effective manager. It considers the manager’s role as both a leader of self and of the organization, and emphasizes changes as critical prerequisites for achieving success. Furthermore, the impact of the positive and negative traits of a ‘’Level Five Manager’’ and a ‘’Toxic Leader’’ on the performance and success of contemporary organizations is analyzed. Changes have been proposed, and their implementation has resulted in a model of modern, flexible organizations in which people enjoy working, as they are neither constrained nor stressed. The discussion further examines how conflictual and stressful situations within an organization can be minimized. A contemporary manager model is proposed, one that consistently strives to prevent stressful situations and, when they occur, to address them effectively. The concept of the ‘’art of dealing with people’’ is presented as a key factor for success, within organizations where individuals perceive themselves as members of a cohesive team. The manager, as a leader, stands out through their activity, practicality, persuasiveness, and the ability to consider and seriously evaluate ideas that may seem impossible to others. The discussion also covers fear and strategies for overcoming it, analyzing the fears encountered on the path to success and why focusing on them is not productive.
U.S. Military “Deterrence” Strategy in the Indo-Pacific
This article examines the United States’ military “deterrence” strategy in the Indo-Pacific region and its underlying geopolitical dynamics. The study highlights the 21st-century geopolitical context in which the region has become the primary arena of great-power competition between the United States and China. It emphasizes Washington’s strategic objectives: containing China’s expanding influence, maintaining military and air superiority, strengthening partnership alliances (ASEAN – Association of Southeast Asian Nations; AUKUS – Australia–United Kingdom–United States security partnership; QUAD – Quadrilateral Security Dialogue), and upholding the international order under the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy. Special attention is given to the significance of AUKUS, which provides Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, cyber capabilities, hypersonic systems, and advanced AI technologies—constituting a direct response to China’s military activities in the South China Sea and the broader region. The study also outlines the importance of economic engagement, support for innovation, and strengthening democratic governance as critical components of the U.S. global strategy, all of which reinforce the traditional military dimension of deterrence. The research employs a qualitative social-science methodology. This approach enables a comprehensive and multidimensional analysis of the problem rather than focusing solely on isolated manifestations. The key advantage of the qualitative method lies in its capacity for in-depth, holistic examination of complex issues. The paper discusses the role of U.S. geopolitical interests in shaping the global order of the 21st century. Strategically, Washington focuses on regions that directly or indirectly affect U.S. national security, economic power, and global leadership—with the Indo-Pacific being among the most vital. U.S. military policy for safeguarding these interests is grounded in three core principles: Threat prevention and deterrence through a robust military presence in strategic regions; Strengthening global partnerships via NATO, AUKUS, QUAD, and other regional blocs; Integration of innovative technologies, particularly in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Geopolitically, the Indo-Pacific constitutes a crucial economic and strategic space in which the United States seeks to maintain vigilance and rapid response capabilities—militarily and economically. At the same time, regional partners such as India, Australia, Japan, and others form integral pillars of America’s deterrence architecture, contributing to a strengthened regional coalition and an increasingly multipolar security structure. The strategy’s effectiveness relies on mobile and flexible military forces, innovative technologies, and the active use of the information domain, all of which enhance the United States’ capacity to respond to regional challenges.
Georgia’s Tax System: Between Reform and Stability
The tax system is one of the primary instruments of economic stability and fiscal sustainability in modern states. Georgia’s Tax Code defines the types of taxes, taxpayer categories, and the rules of taxation, enabling the state to maintain a balanced budget and create a business-friendly environment. Taxes serve not only fiscal purposes but also strategic economic, social, and regulatory functions, promoting economic policy implementation, social equity, and the country’s investment attractiveness. The Georgian tax system is divided into two main categories: state taxes and local taxes. State taxes, which constitute the central budget, include personal income tax, corporate profit tax, value-added tax (VAT), excise duties, and import duties. Local taxes, administered by municipal authorities, primarily consist of property tax and other local levies, ensuring financial independence for municipalities and enabling the funding of infrastructure, education, and social projects. Personal income tax in Georgia is progressive: annual income up to 40,000 GEL is exempt, while income above this threshold is taxed at a 20% rate, ensuring social fairness and international competitiveness. The corporate profit tax adopts an innovative model, taxing only distributed profits at 15%, while reinvested profits remain untaxed, stimulating investment attraction and business development. VAT, as an indirect tax, represents a major source of budget revenue, with a standard rate of 18% and a reduced rate of 5% for hotel services, supporting tourism promotion. Excise duties, applied to specific harmful products, both increase budget revenues and support public health policies. Among local taxes, property tax plays the primary role, though it creates revenue disparities between regions. The Georgian Revenue Service is responsible for tax administration, and the introduction of electronic declaration has simplified bureaucracy and increased transparency. Compared internationally, Georgia’s tax system is competitive due to its low rates, simple administration, and predictable environment. However, challenges remain in maintaining fiscal stability, reducing regional disparities, and ensuring fair revenue distribution. Recommendations include improving administrative processes, maintaining business incentives, refining the progressive scale of personal income tax, strengthening local finances, and increasing taxpayer awareness. Overall, Georgia’s tax system represents a stable, competitive, and innovative fiscal mechanism, and its further refinement will significantly support economic growth and the promotion of social equity.
Geopolitical Transformation and New Generation Warfare
The study „Geopolitical Transformation and New-Generation Warfare“ examines the dynamics of the contemporary international system, where multipolarity, shifts in geostrategic axes, resource competition, and geoeconomic rivalry create a complex, multi-layered conflict environment. The research explores the concept of new-generation warfare (NGW), its hybrid forms, cyber and informational strategies, which pose significant challenges to modern states. The main objective of this research is to analyze how the concepts of security and state sovereignty are being transformed in the 21st century, to understand the dilemmas faced by small and medium-sized states within a multipolar international system, and to examine the influence of geoeconomic instruments and resource competition on contemporary conflicts. The study employs theoretical analysis, documentary research, comparative methods, and contemporary international practice examples. The findings reveal that NGW forms, multipolarity, and geoeconomic challenges require comprehensive, integrated approaches across military, economic, informational, and legal domains. The conclusions emphasize the necessity for states to adopt strategic planning and resilient policies to secure sovereignty, maintain security, and ensure sustainable development in the evolving global environment.
The Biological And Political Foundations Of Violence
The problem of violence has long occupied a central place in the study of human nature. From the philosophical reflections of Hobbes and Schmitt to the anthropological and neurobiological insights of Lorenz and Girard, violence emerges as a fundamental, multidimensional phenomenon that bridges the biological and the socio-political. The tendency toward aggression and conflict is not merely a product of external conditions or ideological confrontation, but rather an intrinsic feature of human existence—a mechanism that has historically served both survival and self-destruction. Understanding violence, therefore, requires a synthesis of perspectives: anthropology reveals its evolutionary origins, political theory explores its institutionalization, and psychology uncovers its neural and emotional roots. Within this framework, war appears not only as a political instrument but also as an expression of deeply embedded biological drives that shape human identity, social cohesion, and the very foundations of political order.
Specific Features of Innovative Technological Support in Modern Warfare
The article examines technological and informational innovations in modern warfare as factors exerting an increasingly significant influence on national security. It analyzes military and strategic concepts based on network integration, digital intelligence systems, and forms of information-psychological influence. The study compares the practical implementation of technological warfare models by the United States and NATO, as well as by Russia and China. Particular attention is devoted to the role of information-psychological operations (PSYOPS), which, together with next-generation technological tools, determine the structure and dynamics of the modern battlefield. In the context of Georgia, the significance of this topic lies in the fact that national security effectiveness depends not only on military potential but also on the protection of cyberspace, data management systems, and the strengthening of informational resilience. The conclusion emphasizes that the integration of technological innovations into the defense system requires strategic vision, digital transformation, and enhanced international cooperation.
Challenges Of National Defense Resource Management
Effective National Defense Resource Management is indispensable for safeguarding a nation's security, stability, and strategic interests in an increasingly volatile global landscape. This paper undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the complex, multilayered challenges governments face in efficiently and effectively allocating, managing, and maintaining resources for their defense sectors. The research specifically examines five critical and interconnected dimensions: Budget Constraints and Fiscal Planning, Rapid Technological Advancements, Human Resource Management and Retention, Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities, and Supply Chain Resilience. The inherent tension between limited resources and escalating defense needs is a core challenge. Defense spending, often influenced by political perceptions of threats and economic capacity (the 'defense burden'), must strategically cover operational costs, personnel (which can consume a significant portion of the defense budget), and critical procurement and R&D. The study emphasizes that geopolitical shifts and emerging threats, such as the dynamic nature of modern warfare highlighted by recent conflicts, necessitate constant renewal of capabilities, placing immense strain on national budgets. Furthermore, the paper delves into the challenges posed by rapid technological evolution. Cutting-edge military technologies, while essential for maintaining a competitive edge in domains such as advanced weaponry and cybersecurity, are costly to develop, acquire, and maintain, requiring substantial investment in defense Research and Development. This rapid change also accelerates the obsolescence of once-advanced systems, creating a perpetual resource management challenge to keep pace. Addressing these complexities requires meticulous strategic planning, focusing on transparent resource allocation, accountability, and adaptability. The paper highlights that resource management extends beyond materiel to include human capital. Recruiting, training, and retaining highly skilled personnel—particularly in specialized fields like cybersecurity and advanced engineering—is resource-intensive and crucial for maintaining military readiness. Finally, the analysis underscores the critical importance of mitigating both cybersecurity risks (given the increasing digitization of defense systems and infrastructure) and supply chain vulnerabilities, which are susceptible to geopolitical conflicts, single-source dependencies, and sophisticated cyber-attacks. Ultimately, this paper argues that ensuring a robust defense posture in a world marked by geopolitical uncertainties and dynamic threats hinges on proactive, integrated, and flexible NDRM. Success requires balancing immediate operational needs with long-term strategic investment, continuous evaluation, and adaptation to secure national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
From Bipolar Detente to Asymmetric Interdependence: Theoretical Lessons for Managing Twenty-First-Century U.S.–China Rivalry
This article provides a comprehensive comparative examination of great-power tension management by juxtaposing the Cold War-era détente between the United States and the Soviet Union with the contemporary strategic rivalry between the United States and China. While the Cold War détente emerged from a highly structured bipolar order characterized by nuclear parity, ideological confrontation, and relatively limited economic interdependence, today’s U.S.–China relationship unfolds within a vastly more complex environment shaped by deep economic entanglement, technological interdependence, multipolar dynamics, and regionally distributed flashpoints. Against this backdrop, the article evaluates whether the conceptual logic, institutional mechanisms, and strategic lessons of détente retain analytical relevance for managing twenty-first-century great-power tensions. The study argues that although historical analogies offer valuable insights, the structural conditions underpinning Cold War détente differ fundamentally from those shaping U.S.–China relations. Nevertheless, détente’s foundational principles—strategic communication, mutual recognition of core interests, institutionalized crisis management, and rules-based competition—remain essential for preventing escalation in the current geopolitical landscape. Through a qualitative, theory-informed comparative analysis, the article demonstrates that a modernized form of détente may be possible but would require innovative frameworks that accommodate asymmetric interdependence, technological rivalry, cyber competition, and the evolving norms of global governance. Ultimately, the findings contribute to broader scholarly debates about great-power politics, strategic stability, and the prospects for peaceful coexistence in an era defined by systemic rivalry. The article concludes that while Cold War détente cannot be replicated in its original form, its conceptual lessons can inform the development of new models of great-power management capable of reducing risks in an increasingly interconnected and contested global order.
Hybrid Warfare: Theory, Tactics and Strategic Implications
This paper examines hybrid warfare as a distinct geopolitical phenomenon that cannot be fully addressed within conventional theories of war or security studies. Grounded in the framework of geopolitical realism, hybrid warfare is defined as a coordinated set of actions targeting an adversary’s core geopolitical domains. Unlike traditional warfare, it unfolds simultaneously across political, economic, informational, cyber, and cultural spheres, aiming to erode societal resilience and weaken state sovereignty. The study highlights the key technologies of hybrid warfare, including cyber operations, disinformation, economic pressure, and the instrumentalization of energy resources, as well as its primary actors—states, non-state groups, and transnational networks. These actors exploit structural vulnerabilities to undermine legitimacy and stability without relying exclusively on military force. It is argued that hybrid warfare functions both as a strategic doctrine and as a flexible toolkit for achieving geopolitical dominance while avoiding large-scale kinetic confrontation. As such, it illustrates the transformation of contemporary power politics, where decisive struggles increasingly occur outside conventional battlefields.
Innovative Strategies for Emergency Healthcare in Resource-Constrained and Remote Regions Using UAVs, AI, and Telemedicine
Georgia’s mountainous and rugged terrain presents a critical challenge for the provision of timely and effective medical assistance during both armed conflicts and natural disasters. Limited ground accessibility, unpredictable weather, and dispersed population centers significantly delay casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and the delivery of life-saving medical care within the "golden hour." Simultaneously, Georgia—like many other nations—faces a growing shortage of qualified military medical personnel, which further limits its capacity to respond efficiently in crisis situations. This paper proposes an integrated solution that combines unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), artificial intelligence (AI), and telemedicine technologies under the principles of Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC). Through this approach, UAVs equipped with advanced sensors can rapidly detect casualties; AI algorithms can analyze vital signs and injury data; and telemedicine systems, connected to a centralized Command and Control (C2) medical center, can guide first responders or even untrained individuals in providing effective life-saving care. Furthermore, AI-assisted triage and UAV-based medical logistics can optimize resource allocation, ensuring that medical personnel and supplies are deployed rationally and efficiently across complex terrains. This study argues that the integration of UAVs, AI, and telemedicine—when structured in alignment with TCCC’s core principles of immediate care, tactical field management, and evacuation—can provide Georgia with a strategic, innovative, and sustainable framework for modern military and humanitarian medicine. The model emphasizes the rational use of limited medical resources, the enhancement of casualty survival rates, and the expansion of tactical medical capabilities within the constraints imposed by Georgia’s topography.