Project title: The post-liberal state and the change of the democratic paradigm: the
influence of cultural-ideological conflicts, propaganda-disinformation narratives and
digital technologies on the redefinition of democratic values (Postliberalno stanje i
promjena demokratske paradigme: utjecaj kulturno-ideoloških sukoba, propagandno-
dezinformacijskih narativa i digitalnih tehnologija na redefiniranje demokratskih
vrijednosti), Acronym: POSLIBDEM (FPZG-IP-05)
Thematical area of the project: Political sciences, political theory, Croatian politics,
International relations, Public policies, Communication sciences, Educational sciences
Duration of the project: 48 months (start date: 10/2025 – end date: 09/2029)
Total cost: 56.119,00 EUR (100 % EU contribution NextGenerationEU)

Principle investigator (PI): Associate professor Hrvoje Cvijanović

Research team members:
Full professor Nebojša Blanuša (FPZG)
Associate professor Kosta Bovan (FPZG)
Lidija Eret, PhD (FPZG)
Full professor Enes Kulenović (FPZG)
Full professor Zoran Kurelić (FPZG)
Full professor Tonči Kursar (FPZG)
Dejan Oblak, PhD candidate (FPZG)
Full professor Krešimir Petković (FPZG)
Associate professor Petar Popović (FPZG)
Associate professor Luka Ribarević (FPZG)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The key research question is how does the interplay of cultural-ideological conflicts, propaganda-
disinformation narratives and digital technologies contribute to the redefinition of democratic
values ​​in the post-liberal context? Answers to that question will be articulated through three
integrated research modules linked to three project goals, including theoretical and empirical

activities, scientific publications, methodological workshops, international mobilities,
organization of conferences and public forums, and digital dissemination of results.
The importance of the research topic, the fundamental problem, is the understanding of the
causes and consequences of the post-liberal state - a contemporary socio-political and epistemic
state in which the fundamental ideals of liberalism and liberal democracy are questioned, eroded,
rejected or reconfigured. This situation simultaneously represents a reaction to the perceived
failures and contradictions of liberalism and a horizon for an attack on liberalism from ‘within or
form outside’, as well as the articulation of ideological and political alternatives from the political
left or right. The existing liberal-democratic paradigm cannot adequately explain the reasons for
the aforementioned changes, which lead to distrust in liberal norms and institutions, the rise of
sovereignty, authoritarian, nationalist and communitarian ideologies, new forms of fascism,
identity politics and polarization, new multipolarity and anti-liberal projects (Eurasianism or, for
example, the “Russian world” and the “Serbian world”). The public sphere is shaped by
propaganda-disinformation narratives and digital technologies that simultaneously enable the
dissemination and manipulation of information, questioning its credibility and the existing
political education that does not adapt quickly enough to these changes, thereby destabilizing the
existing democratic paradigm. Accordingly, traditional theoretical frameworks, tools of critical
thinking, media literacy, the fight against disinformation and existing educational policies prove
to be insufficient.
Contact: Associate professor Hrvoje Cvijanović (hrvoje.cvijanovic@fpzg.hr)