Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is a major challenge for the entire modern world. Since December 2019, the international community has been concerned about the current situation. The World Health Organization declared the disease as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The countries are doing their best to prevent the spread of disease. Thus, there is an acute health crisis in the world, which leaves its negative results and will continue to affect all areas of society, especially the economy. Existing difficulties are almost universal. The complexity of the situation reflects upon small, developing countries, such as Georgia, where health and economics are the common denominators directly related to environmental protection. Therefore, along with the data about COVID-19, the chapter presents environmental perspectives of Georgia's international cooperation. The current situation in Georgia is reflected in the program documents of the political parties participating in the 2020 parliamentary elections.
TopIntroduction
The modern world has been facing a common threat since December 2019. As a result of the rapid spread of the deadly infection Covid-19, thousands of people die, there are a number of restrictions in the countries, isolation, quarantine, every state is in the tough and acute situation, which leads to a severe social background.
To stop the disease, the world’s famous scientists worked hard all year to create a vaccine against the virus and to achieve the desired results.
Even the world's leading, economically strong countries are facing problems, such difficulties are almost universal. The whole world is facing great challenges and we have to admit that in small countries like Georgia the situation is even more. Here, the authorities, start to work over the situation on January 28, 2020, a month before the confirmation of the first fact (February 26): the government started the fight against Covid-19, and on March 21 already declared a state of emergency.
Like the rest of the world, the coronavirus crisis (COVID-19) has posed new challenges to Georgia, with the pandemic affecting all areas of public life. The main goal of the government is to overcome the crisis created by the pandemic, the rapid recovery, and development of the economy, to create a stable and secure environment for every citizen.
Everywhere, including in Georgia, it is a matter for all governments to care for their population health and to adjust the situation of a number of sectors to the appropriate level.
The existing reality has shown that the whole of humanity faces a common problem. The problem does not differ poor from reach people, strong from a weak political actor, developing from a developed country; it affects everyone.
The world is battling with the public health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19, and this situation has made even more clear the power of infectious diseases and their connection to environmental problems.
An important challenge is faced primarily by health systems, as well as, especially for small, developing countries in various areas of the social sphere, we consider it a matter of universal importance because it never loses its relevance at the international level. At the same time, the issue of environmental protection is directly related to the economy. Accordingly, along with the data of Covid-19 in the paper, the environmental issue in Georgia is presented.
Naturally, the situation in the Georgian reality, during the election campaign in a very noisy situation against the background of the pandemic, was reflected in the program documents of the political entities participating in the 2020 parliamentary elections. It is noteworthy to highlight the issue addressing the health and environmental issues in the context of the Covis-19 situation which has its negative impact on the political spectrum as well. Thus, by studying their approaches, we can develop ways of future frameworks based on the findings and recommendations of the goal of overcoming the existing problems.
The paper aims: to study and present the existing reality in Georgia concerning Covid-19 conditions; to observe the effective steps of the government for the stability of the situation and the attitude of political parties to the problems of health and environmental issues and the search for solutions.
Research method: the chapter is based on the qualitative method, extensive analysis is made based on materials, official documents, decisions, resolutions, resolutions, a number of empirical materials, search-processing, and observation of primary sources from various media.
The task of the paper is: based on the available documentary material to present the following:
- •
how the world's largest, most common problem is perceived in a small country;
- •
how a small country tries to cope with the challenge;
- •
what is directly related to this problem;
- •
what should be addressed in the country to avoid impending threats;
- •
how the major political entities in the country view the issue, creating the political climate in the country.
Key Terms in this Chapter
COVID-19: An infectious, contagious disease that can be transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person.
Georgia: An independent, sovereign state of the Black Sea basin in the South Caucasus, bordered by Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Russian Federation, and Turkey. The population of the country is 3. 716.000 (National Statistics Office of Georgia, 2020).
Health: Human physical, spiritual, and social well-being.
Natural Resources: Water, soil, air, minerals, forest, animals, etc.
Environmental Protection: Is all state and public measures aimed at the harmonious relationship between society and nature and aims to preserve the vital foundations of man and nature as a whole and to eliminate existing environmental damage, protect and restore natural resources.
Electoral Subject: A party, election bloc, or voter initiative group registered by an election commission running for office as a member of a representative body of public authority or as a public official.
Pandemic: A large-scale epidemic when a contagious disease spreads to a wide region, several countries of the world.
Economy: Is a unified economic situation of the country, which brings together various sectors: industry, agriculture, construction, transport, etc.
Party: A group of people with the same interest, who express the interests of a certain part of the population and aim to realize these interests by acquiring or participating in state governance.