Strategic Migration Policy in Georgia Under Soviet Totalitarianism: Government Approaches and Implementation Practices
Author : Irakli Manvelidze, Ineza Zoidze 05/12/2025
Article Abstract
The article analyzes the strategic population relocation policy implemented by the Soviet government in Georgia, a component of the multifaceted migration strategy adopted by the Soviet dictatorship.
The objective of the paper is to examine the Soviet strategic migration policy in Georgia as a tool for labor resource allocation and regional governance, as well as its effects on demographic, social, and spatial distribution processes. The research employs documentary and discursive analysis to examine the Soviet strategic migration program as a crucial instrument of state control, significantly influencing the demographic and socioeconomic landscape of Georgia.
While ecological hazards in Georgia, particularly the natural disasters of the 1970s and 1980s, were occasionally employed to justify migration, the primary objectives were to facilitate economic development, allocate labor resources, and uphold regional stability. The research is grounded in structural migration theory, the ethnic management model, and the eco-social systems approach, facilitating a nuanced understanding of migratory processes.
The research's originality stems from its inclusion of ecological resettlement of the population throughout the Soviet era as a primary driving force, while also integrating environmental, economic, and regional considerations into a cohesive strategic migration framework.
Keywords: Georgia, Strategic migration, forced displacement, demographic changes, regional politics.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55367/JEEO2010