Sociology Student Forum “Security Under Pressure” Held

On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the second student forum of the University Department of Sociology titled “Security Under Pressure: Lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East” was held in the “Blessed Alojzije Cardinal Stepinac” Hall. The guest lecturer was Prof. Dr. Mirko Bilandžić from the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb.

In his lecture, Professor Bilandžić emphasized that contemporary security theories go beyond the traditional state-centric framework and today encompass not only the military dimension but also economic, social, cultural, and energy aspects. He particularly highlighted that the war in Ukraine confirms the return of classical geopolitics and the importance of power, while conflicts in the Middle East point to long-term instability and the strong influence of identity-based, historical, and religious factors, with far-reaching global consequences.

The forum was moderated by teaching assistant Matea Topić Crnoja, univ. mag. oec., and participants were welcomed by the Head of the Department, Associate Professor Brstilo Lovrić. The event was attended by faculty members and students from all years, who took part in a discussion following the lecture, further deepening their understanding of current security challenges.

We thank Prof. Dr. Mirko Bilandžić for his highly engaging and thought-provoking lecture, as well as all participants for their attendance and contributions. We look forward to future events and to continuing an open dialogue on current social issues.