Project title: Populism in the Global context: Foreign Policies of Selected States of the
Global North and South (Populizam u globalu: vanjske politike odabranih država
Globalnog sjevera i juga), Acronym: POPGLOBAL (FPZG-IP-03)
Thematical area of the project: International relations, national security, comparative
politics, information and communication sciences
Duration of the project: 48 months (start date: 10/2025 – end date: 09/2029)
Total cost: 55.969,06 EUR (100 % EU contribution NextGenerationEU)

Principle investigator (PI): Assistant professor Borna Zgurić

Research team members:
Full professor Lidija Kos-Stanišić (FPZG)
Full professor Berto Šalaj (FPZG)
Full professor Marta Zorko (FPZG)
Full professor Đana Luša (FPZG)
Associate professor Robert Mikac (FPZG)
Ivana Cesarec (PhD student FPZG)
Full professor Viktorija Car (associated external expert, University of Split)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The project investigates the influence of populism on foreign policy in countries of the Global
North and South, with the aim of comparative analysis of discursive and narrative strategies,
institutional changes and approaches to topics such as migration, borders and international
cooperation. The main goal of the project is to understand how populist governments shape
their foreign policy priorities and attitudes towards global issues, multilateralism and international
alliances. The project is multidisciplinary considering that it connects comparative politics,
international relations and security studies (FPZG) and communication and information sciences
(University of Split), with the use of innovative methods - including computer simulation (agent-
based modeling) and building a digital database.

The project consists of six work packages: 1) theoretical framework and definitions; 2) field
collection of empirical data in selected countries through study stays; 3) design of agent-based
model; 4) programming and scenario simulation; 5) interpretation of results and comparative
analysis; and 6) integration of results into higher education.
The project team will analyze a sample of populist governments through qualitative methods
(discourse and narrative analysis) and quantitative digital tools. The goal is to create a digital
 "POPGLOBAL" that will be openly available, and the project findings will be
disseminated through scientific articles, international conferences, a new study courses and
public forums. The innovativeness of the project lies in connecting theoretical analysis, digital
technologies and the application of results in education. The project significantly contributes to
the digital transition of social sciences and opens up space for further international scientific
cooperation.
Contact: Assistant professor Borna Zgurić (borna.zguric@fpzg.hr)