INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

Programme: International Visegrad Fund - Visegrad Grant 

Project number/n. of grant agreement: 22620468 

Project coordinator (organization): Ludovit Stur Institute of Linguistics SAS 

Project partners: Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences; University of Szeged; Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, Comenius University Bratislava 

FSES UK Institute implementing the project: Institute of European Studies and International Relations 

Principal Investigator from FSES UK: Mgr. Pavol Hardoš M.A., PhD. 

Implementation period (from- until, day, month, year): 21. 9. 2026 – 30. 11. 2026 

Abstract: 

The project brings together experts across the V4 countries to facilitate the exchange of ideas/findings on the pragmatic aspects of language (mechanisms and principles) in the latent strategic communication. The main aim of the conference is to examine how this type of communication is reproduced through language in various public domains, particularly focusing on state strategic communication. 

Pavol Hardoš delivered a keynote presentation at the international interdisciplinary conference Language and Communication Aspects of Disinformation, organised by the Ľudovít Štúr Institute of Linguistics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. 

The presentation, entitled “The Grammar of Betrayal: Illiberal Conspiracy Tropes in Slovak Political Rhetoric,” explored the use of conspiracy narratives in political communication. 

In times of uncertainty, conspiracy theories can serve as a mythological model that organises events and facts around alleged conspiracies driven by evil forces. Political actors can weaponise them as narrative tools through which they divide society into “us” and “them” and persuade people that the nation is under threat from enemies both outside and within. 

The lecture demonstrated how such political communication can revive older nationalist motifs and direct them against new enemies: liberalism, civil society, “gender ideology,” or LGBTQ+ rights. Contemporary illiberal conspiracy discourse thus builds on long-standing Slovak ideological traditions of “victimhood nationalism” and anti-Western resentment, while simultaneously reinforcing them. Within such discourses, the Slovak nation repeatedly finds itself confronted by supposedly hidden, foreign, and malevolent forces acting against it. 

Finally, the lecture examined how such political myths can function as instruments of autocratisation, not only by undermining institutional authorities but also by strategically framing civil society and legitimate democratic forces as agents of internal betrayal. 

Acronym: GreHackathon+ 

Programme: ENLIGHT+ 

Project coordinator (organization): FSES CU 

Project partners: University of Bern, University of Bordeaux, University of Galway, University of Göttingen 

FSES UK Institute implementing the project: Institute of European Studies and International Relations 

Principal Investigator from FSES UK: Vivien Ďuricová 

Implementation period (from- until, day, month, year): 3.7.2026 - 3.7.2027 

Funding for FSES UK: 3500 euros 

Abstract: 

The ENLIGHT Sustainability Hackathon (GreHackathon) is an international, student-led initiative bringing together students from five European universities to collaboratively address current sustainability challenges. The event will be hosted by Comenius University in Bratislava, in partnership with University of Bordeaux, University of Bern, University of Gottingen and University of Galway. 

The initiative is designed as a four day, in person event where selected students from each partner university come together to work in international and interdisciplinary teams. During a 24-hour hackathon students will develop practical solutions for sustainability challenges affecting universities and their surrounding communities. Throughout the entire process, academic experts and mentors will be available to the student teams to consult their ideas.  

GreHackathon is designed to be a learning experience that will encourage students to think across disciplines and collaborate in international teams. Beyond that GreHackathon aims to encourage young people to act and turn their ideas into action. 

Acronym: CitiSense 

Programme: Horizon Europe: HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-03: Preparing the EU for future enlargement: challenges and opportunities 

Project number/n. of grant agreement: 101286806 

Project coordinator (organization): European University Institute, Robert Schuman Centre of Advanced Studies 

Project partners: Maastricht University (UM), International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS), Institute for International Affairs (IAI), Democracy Institute, Central European University (CEU), University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), Institute for European Politics (IEP), European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), Stockholm University (SU), Trans-European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA), Comenius University Bratislava (CUB), University of Social Sciences and Humanities Warsaw (USWPS), Ilia State University (ISU), National University ‘Kyiv-Mohyla Academy’ (UKMA), WatchDog.MD (WMD), Institute for democracy Societas Civilis Skopje (IDSCS) 

FSES UK Institute implementing the project: Institute of European Studies and International Relations 

Principal Investigator from FSES UK: prof. JUDr. PhDr. Lucia Mokrá, PhD.   

Other investigators from FSES UK: Mgr. Matej Navrátil, PhD., Mgr. Jakub Szabó PhD. , doc. JUDr. Hana Kováčiková, PhD. 

Implementation period (from- until, day, month, year): 1.10.2026 - 30.9.2029 

Funding for FSES UK: 107 621,25 € 

Abstract: 

How can the EU pursue a more effective and resilient enlargement policy by fostering understanding of its security, economic, and societal impacts among citizens? Project “CitiSense – Making Sense of EU Enlargement for, with and by Citizens” – addresses emerging questions on effective and resilient enlargement of the European Union, to focus on understanding the security, economic and societal impacts of the enlargement among citizens, both in the EU and candidate countries. By applying an innovative threefold approach: "for citizens" it foresees producing clear evidence on the costs and benefits of enlargement and non-enlargement; "with citizens" it systematically analyses public attitudes, perceptions, and concerns; and "by citizens" provides direct opportunities to participate in debates and co-design solutions.  The project employs a multimethod research design. CitiSense will generate a wide range of outputs: multidimensional toolboxes for policymakers, administrators, educators, and civil society, integrating public opinion data, cost-benefit analyses, and foresight scenarios with manuals for participatory mechanisms such as Hackathons, Citizen Assemblies, and Youth Labs. It will also deliver a digital guidebook of “30 FAQs on Enlargement”, a Europe-wide collection of student-authored country reports, educational resources for schools, and multimedia formats (podcasts, Instagram reels, and interactive art exhibition). Together, these outputs will provide accessible, user-friendly, and transferable resources that promote transparent communication and inclusive policymaking, and inform public debate on EU enlargement.