Dr. Shalva Dzebisashvili is Associate Professor in political science and IR in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Georgia (UG), Tbilisi, Georgia. Being a GEM-EU Erasmus Mundus doctoral fellow, Shalva Dzebisashvili successfully defended his thesis in January 2016 and received his doctoral degree from the Free University Brussels (ULB, Belgium) and the Bielefeld University (Germany). In 2008–2009, he successfully completed his master’s degree in strategic security studies at the National Defense University (NDU, Washington) and worked as a Defense Advisor of the Georgian Ministry of Defense at the Georgian Mission to NATO (Brussels). From 2003 to 2012 and from 2017 to June 2019, he held senior positions in the Defense Policy and Planning Department of the Georgian Ministry of Defense. He is a member of several research organizations, notably the UGSPN (Security Policy and Nationalism research center of the University of Georgia), GSAC (Georgian Strategic Analysis Center) and CCDS (Civil Council on Defence and Security) and author of numerous publications. Dr. Shalva Dzebisashvili is currently directing the project on developing the national resilience/vulnerability assessment tool (model) and is involved in the international collaborative research project titled “Institutional Transformation and Social Practices in the Countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia,” funded by the Volkswagen Foundation.
Role
Nino Gozalishvili –Academic Head of Nationalism, Security & Policy Research Hub at the University of Georgia.
Experience
Nino is PhD Candidate at the Central European University in Vienna. She is particularly interested in the matters related to the post-Socialist political transformations and contemporary history of nationalism and national-populism in the region. She has served as a co-instructor at Central European University and as an invited lecturer at various Georgian universities guiding students in courses related to nationalism and populism studies as well as research methodologies and disinformation analysis. Nino's publications deal with the Soviet history of Georgia, the issues of right-wing populism, democratization and disinformation, as well as the trends in soft power policies deployed towards Georgia. Nino has worked with various Georgian and European institutions in the short- and long-term positions of research affiliate or fellow, including at the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), Centre for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Democracy, Georgian Institute of Politics (GIP) among others.
Education
Nino is currently finalizing her PhD thesis titled "Nationalist Transnationalism: Decoding the National-Populist Discourses in Post-Communist Georgia," which reflects her deep-seated interest in the intersection of nationalism, populism, and transnational dynamics. Nino holds an MA degree in Nationalism Studies from CEU and BA in International Relations from Tbilisi State University (TSU). Throughout her career, Nino has engaged in learning affiliations and research collaborations with institutions such as the University of Edinburgh, University of Zurich, University of Warsaw, and European-University Viadrina.
Recognized for her scholarly contributions, Nino has received numerous awards and scholarships, including the Forbes 30 Under 30 Georgia in the Science category and the Visegrád Foundation Scientific scholarship.
Role
Revaz Topuria – Executive Director
Education:
Revaz holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations with a specialization in Far Eastern Studies from the Free University of Tbilisi. He furthered his studies in China at Lanzhou University. His pursuit of education led him to attain a Master's degree in Intelligence, Security, and Strategic Studies, earned from esteemed institutions such as the University of Glasgow (UK), Dublin City University (Ireland), and Charles University (Czech Republic).
Experience:
Revaz has excellent working experience in public sector, international organizations and NGOs. Through his career he has worked at the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, United Nations Development Program, Centre for Economic Prosperity and several other NGOs. For more than two years, Revaz has been an Academic Director of Franklin Club, an education think-tank based in Tbilisi, directing the one of the biggest educational projects in Georgia.
Currently, Revaz Topuria is a lecturer at the University of Georgia teaching bachelor and master’s courses on political ideologies, hybrid warfare, intelligence studies, disinformation studies.
Revaz has published a number of academic articles and has even authored a book on political ideologies.
Education
In 2016 Vazha was awarded a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Georgia. In 2020, he received a master's degree in international relations from the University of Georgia, specializing in Russian foreign policy research. From 2022, Vazha has been working on a doctoral research project in political science, focusing on the process of transformation of Georgian political elites.
Experience
Along with his academic activities, Vazha has extensive experience working in the public service in the areas of Euro-Atlantic integration and foreign policy analysis.
Khatia Davlianidze is a research fellow at the Security, Politics, and Nationalism Research Center (UGSPN).
Education
She holds a bachelor's degree in international relations and a master's degree in Global Studies from the University of Georgia.
Experience
Her main field of interest is the politics of Southeast Europe. Since 2017, Khatia Davlianidze has been actively publishing analytical articles and policy documents on issues of international politics and security, domestic and foreign policy of the Balkan states.
Role
Giorgi is a Research Fellow at the University of Georgia Security, Policy & Nationalism Research Center
Experience
Giorgi has more than 20 years’ experience of working as an analyst. His research area includes national security policy, Russia’s external and internal policy and regional security. In 2018-2022 he was a research fellow at Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS). In 2014-2017 he worked at the Office of State Security and Crisis Management Council on the position of Director of External Security Department. In 1999-2014 Giorgi worked at the Analytical Directorate of the Intelligence Service of Georgia.
Education
Giorgi holds Master Degree in International Relations from the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs. He also has some qualification courses and trainings in areas of national security policy, analytical methodology and intelligence including: National Security Policymaking (SUSI/NSP), USA (2018); Advanced Analysts' Training Course, UK (2010); Intelligence and Security Germany (2001).
