Project title: Strategic mapping, analysis, reflection and transformation of the power of the
European Union (Strateško mapiranje, analiza, refleksija i transformacija moći Europske
unije), Acronym: SMART-M-EU (FPZG-IP-02)

Thematical area of the project: International relations, public relations, Security studies,
International political economy
Duration of the project: 48 months (start date: 10/2025 – end date: 09/2029)
Total cost: 55.642,38 EUR (100 % EU contribution NextGenerationEU)

Principle investigator (PI): Associate professor Hrvoje Jakopović

Research team members:
Full professor Lidija Kos-Stanišić (FPZG)
Full professor Božo Skoko (associated external expert, Algebra Bernays University)
Full professor Marta Zorko (FPZG)
Full professor Ružica Jakešević (FPZG)
Associate professor Kristijan Kotarski (FPZG)
Full professor Đana Luša (FPZG)
Associate professor Robert Mikac (FPZG)
Associate professor Petar Popović (FPZG)
Assistant professor Josip Lučev (FPZG)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The SMART-M-EU project investigates the smart power of the European Union (EU) and its
representation in the international environment. The EU is studied as a non-state actor and a
single entity, while taking into account the heterogeneity of its member states, their search for
power and their own global position in relation to other international actors.
The EU's smart power will be broken down into hard and soft, with an analysis of the projection
of power through diplomacy, strategic communication, security and economics. This takes into

account the specificities of today and the impacts of technology and digitalization on power
relations in the international environment.
The research involves a combined methodology and the application of quantitative and
qualitative methods (content and narrative analysis, focus groups, interviews) with the aim of
examining how the EU projects its smart power through its strategic documents, media and
practices - diplomatic, economic, security and strategic communication. In this regard, the
scientific contribution of the project is reflected in the definition and measurement of smart
power indicators and the application of scenario analysis on the example of the smart power of
the European Union. It is expected that the innovative research design, research results and
strategic directions resulting from the proposed project will contribute to a better understanding
of smart power, its measurement and representation in the international environment.
In the framework of diplomacy and strategic communication of the EU, the research is mainly
focused on soft power that manifests itself through culture, political values ​​and foreign policy.
Research on the security aspect of the EU takes into account hard and soft power as
components of smart power, and is manifested through the constitution of the EU as a security
community and its military power along with other elements of hard power. The economic
framework includes research into aspects of the economic basis of smart power such as trade
agreements, their negotiations and ratification, trade policy adoption, cohesion policy, center-
periphery relations, enlargement policy, aid, investments.
Contact: Associate professor Hrvoje Jakopović (hrvoje.jakopovic@fpzg.hr)