The main research question of the study was: What are the risk factors of vulnerability towards violent extremism amongst youth of Georgia and which sub-group is most vulnerable?

This study examined the following key drivers of vulnerability (USAID, 2009) towards violent extremism in the context of Georgia:
Social exclusion, which generally refers to the limitations experienced by individuals participating in various activities: production, consumption, civic engagement, political participation, etc.
Social isolation and alienation, which attract angry youth to risky behaviour that provides an escape from routine lives.
Insufficient governance (both at central and local levels) to address the social problems, especially, poverty and unemployment; low trust towards political institutions and authorities.
Suppression of human rights to be involved in nonmainstream practices attached to religious minorities; stigmatization of those who have different markers of behaviour and even physical appearance.
Role of religion in facilitating mobilization, offering a compelling narrative, providing a justification, and sanctifying violent extremism acts.
Lack of viable alternative viewpoints or teachings other than religious, nationalistic metanarratives, which are transparently or latently delivered in schools.

The research consisted of two methodological approaches: 1. Qualitative study, which covered 13 focus groups with different youth groups and 5 in-depth interviews with experts, as well as critical discourse analysis of school textbooks; 2. Quantitative study (survey), with nation-wide representative sampling, within which face to face interviews were conducted with different youth target groups.

This research resulted in several key findings that are described in more detail below. First, this study revealed that the majority (more than 65%) of households that the youth in Georgia belong to, experience poverty or have a hard time in escaping from it. In addition to poverty, there is a large problem with youth unemployment in Georgia; the majority (57.3%) of youth of employable age (18-29 age group) are unemployed, and those that do work mostly have jobs that require no qualification or hold low positions in the public sector. Thus, their contribution to household income does not combat poverty or economic deprivation. Furthermore, employed youngsters experience discriminatory work settings and think that their jobs do not give them opportunities to fully realize their potential. Unemployed youngsters talk about nepotism and an unfair job market, which reduces their career opportunities even further. The current state of the labour market in Georgia is one characterized by adverse conditions for self-realization of young individuals.