Pristupačnost
The Department of Sociology was established in 1992 and is one of the core disciplines of the Faculty of Croatian Studies. The concept of sociology studies focuses on the application of sociological theories and social science methodology for understanding social processes and phenomena in the specific context of Croatian society and comparatively in a European and global perspective. The study of sociology aims to train highly qualified sociological research personnel with professional research and analytical skills necessary for productive work in the public and private sectors. The sociology program at the bachelor's and master's levels is organized according to current international scientific standards.
On Friday, 6 February, Doc. Dr. Ivan Perkov, Assistant Professor at the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, appeared as a guest on Poligraf, a programme broadcast on the First Programme of Croatian Radio.
The episode focused on social polarization triggered by the public reception of the Croatian national handball team—an event intended as a collective celebration of sporting success, which instead evolved in the public sphere into a pronounced ideological and political confrontation.
Alongside Doc. Dr. Ivan Perkov, the programme featured Prof. Dr. Berto Šalaj from the Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, and Doc. Dr. Jakov Žižić from the Catholic University of Croatia.
In his sociological analysis, Perkov emphasized the close relationship between sport and politics in Croatia, stating:
“Sport and politics in Croatia are inseparable. Athletes succeed despite politics, not because of it, while politicians regularly associate themselves with sporting achievements and public celebrations.”
Reflecting on contemporary political processes and public discourse, he warned of increasing social polarization:
“Political actors are moving further away from the political center and becoming increasingly entrenched in their positions, while social media and algorithms further intensify polarization. Instead of pluralism, political discourse is increasingly reduced to a division between ‘us’ and ‘them,’ which ultimately weakens democracy.”
Perkov also addressed unresolved social issues, noting that their ambiguity is often deliberate:
“Certain social issues, such as the ‘ZDS’ slogan, are intentionally left unresolved because their ambiguity allows for ongoing political manipulation.”
He placed particular emphasis on the low level of political participation and political culture:
“A significant proportion of citizens do not participate in politics and lack political culture and knowledge of political processes. This is especially evident among young people, making them more vulnerable to manipulation and posing a serious challenge to the future of democracy in Croatia.”
The full episode of Poligraf is available via the provided link.