In 2000, several high-ranking government officials and civil society leaders in [the former
Soviet Republic of] Georgia asked the National Strategy Information Center (NSIC)[a
Washington-based think tank] to help them address the problem of corruption in their
country. Impossible to ignore, corruption was noticeably impeding economic development
and threatening democracy and human rights. Furthermore, they noted that corrupt behavior
was increasingly prevalent and tolerated by Georgian society. These leaders proposed a …

Corruption throughout Georgia's government and society is a major obstacle to economic
development and the establishment of a vibrant democracy. Far from the only challenge
facing this small and troubled country, corruption is, however, among the most urgent of
Georgia's problems and a barrier to effectively confronting any of the others. Georgians
recognize the problem. With the assistance of the international donor community, many in
the government have attempted to reduce corruption, primarily through increased …