ABSTRACT
People mean many different things when referring to “social enterprise” (SE) in Georgia, and a clear common definition is lacking; however, many experts agree on the crucial need for such a definition. The term “social enterprise” has recently gained popularity, but the concept itself is not a new one, and it is important to look at some of the antecedents of the current idea to understand it better. The historical context of SE development in Georgia has deep roots and can be linked with the period of trade development in the country in the 18th century. The economic conditions during that period revealed the need to join public and private equities to produce goods and services and reduce economic risks, and the evolution of trade relations led to the establishment of small merchant unions. Georgia was among the first former Socialist republics to implement a large-scale land redistribution plan.
