Polish Experience in Combating Disinformation – Inspirations for the Western Balkans

We are pleased to announce that the Centre for Europe of University of Warsaw (project leader) and the Centre for International Relations (partner), together with their foreign partners, have been awarded a prestigious MFA grant as part of the MFA’s ‘Public Diplomacy 2023’ competition (in the amount of PLN 150,000). The project entitled. “Polish Experience in Combating Disinformation – Inspirations for the Western Balkans” will be implemented with the following foreign partners, including: University “St. Kliment Ohridski” – Bitola; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje; Institute for Research and European Studies (IRES – NGOs – Northern Macedonia); The Atlantic Council of Montenegro; University Donja Gorica in Podgorica. The main partner on the Polish side is the Centre for International Relations.

The most important goal of the project is to counter Russian disinformation related to the war in Ukraine, including the denigration of Poland as one of the main countries supporting Ukraine, through active and engaging fact-based communication and cooperation with actors from the Balkan countries. An important element of the project will be the unmasking and analysis of Russia’s disinformation activities in relation to the hostilities in Ukraine carried out in the Western Balkan countries, especially Montenegro and North Macedonia. Our activities are aimed at opinion leaders – academics, NGOs and journalists in these two countries.

The project includes: a workshop in Montenegro, a conference and seminar in North Macedonia, a conference in Warsaw, a book publication and a series of webinars and podcasts.

Webinar (15.09.2023):

Centre for Europe of University of Warsaw (Centrum Europejskie UW), Institute of Central Europe and Centre for International Relations held a webinar: “Russian disinformation and war in Ukraine: how to become immune to propaganda?” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mpvIjnVjb8).

The webinar is part of a project entitled “Polish Experience in Combating Disinformation – Inspirations for the Western Balkans”. This is a public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the grant competition “Public Diplomacy 2023”.

Participants:

  • Tomasz Stępniewski, PhD, Deputy Director, Institute of Central Europe in Lublin
  • Jakub Olchowski, PhD, Assistant Professor at the Department of International Security, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin
  • Andrzej Szabaciuk, PhD, Senior Analyst, Eastern Department, Institute of Central Europe
  • Konrad Pawłowski, dr hab., Assistant professor at the Department of International Relations, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin