Expanded Summary

State material reserve stocks are created by the governing bodies/entities of a country, and their purpose is to supply the population with primary and urgent necessities during wartime and/or a state of emergency, or other exceptional situations (natural disasters and other catastrophes), as well as to ensure the functioning of critically important infrastructure such as railways, highways, seaports, communications, gas, oil and petroleum products, energy and water supply, healthcare institutions, and other vital critical infrastructure.

Accordingly, the formation and use of the state reserve is mainly carried out for the following purposes:

a) To meet Georgia’s mobilization needs

b) To mitigate and eliminate the consequences of natural disasters, catastrophes, and other emergency situations

c) To ensure the sustainable functioning of the key elements of the country’s economy

d) To provide urgent humanitarian assistance.

State material reserves represent the accumulation of goods (primarily food, energy, and strategically important materials) which the state creates and stores to reduce the impact of sudden supply disruptions, military threats, and sharp price shocks. Their purpose and structure are influenced by technological progress, political risks, and economic integration. The study is divided into chronological stages and thematic blocks to highlight the main transformations and lessons learned.

State material reserves represent the accumulation of goods (mainly food, energy, and strategically important materials) created and maintained by the state to reduce the impact of sudden supply disruptions, military threats, and sharp price shocks.

Historically, state material reserves emerged as a tool for ensuring national defense and public security. Its formation began as early as the age of antiquity, when states created strategic stocks of grain, water, and weapons through taxation and military obligations. This practice aimed to ensure the survival of the population during famine, war, and natural disasters.

Studying the evolution of state material reserves from ancient times and local food storage facilities to modern national strategic reserves of oil, food, and critical materials by analyzing their core functions, stages of development, and institutional forms, allows us to draw conclusions based on historical examples to ensure the effective management of state material reserves in the 21st century.