Kartlos is a researcher and youth policy professional with experience in academia, public sector, and civil society. Currently, he is Director of the Centre for Youth and Societal Research at the University of Georgia and a Research Fellow at the V-Dem Regional Center Caucasus. Before joining academia, he headed the Youth Research and Analysis Department at the Youth Agency, where he worked on youth policy research, analysis, and evaluation, and contributed to the development of national youth strategy. His international experience includes cooperation with European networks to drive youth-focused research and policy initiatives.
His academic interests include youth participation, non-formal education, and social inclusion, with a particular focus on how learning and civic engagement contribute to the development of democratic citizenship and enable individuals to participate meaningfully in public life. He is also interested in democratic development in the South Caucasus, particularly how external influences interact with domestic political institutions, civic initiatives, and local social dynamics. His work explores how democratic ideas and practices spread across borders, how they are adapted to local contexts, and how these processes shape governance and political participation in the region.