Lecture Polarization and Anti-System in Slovakia 2025

• 18.11

On November 13, 2025, in the afternoon, a popular science lecture and discussion on the topic Polarization and Anti-System 2025: Slovakia took place in the Albrecht House on Kapitulská Street. How does polarization affect us? How many people believe that our system does not support them or even deliberately harms them? Our colleagues Pavol Kosnáč and Hugo Gloss presented the latest findings published in the book titled Polarization and Anti-System 2025: Slovakia, which was released this year by the DEKK Institute in cooperation with Institute of Ethnology and Social Anthropology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

The event was held as part of the World Science Day for Peace and Development, which UNESCO has proclaimed annually since 2001. This year, in addition to our institute, three other institutes of the Slovak Academy of Sciences joined this initiative. Our event resonated so strongly that it was highlighted in the global report on activities organized during this day: https://council.science/news/celebrating-science-peace-and-development-on-world-science-day-2025/.

The topic of polarization and the rise of anti-system sentiments in parts of society is an extremely current and serious issue that tests interpersonal relationships at all levels—from families and friendships to politics and society as a whole. The wealth of data presented by our colleagues highlighted changes in our society, comparing them with other societies, showing consequences and examples of countries that are much more polarized (e.g., some Middle Eastern countries) as well as societies that have managed to reduce polarization (Estonia).

Participants representing the academic, journalistic, and political communities discussed these findings with the authors very intensively, both in formal and informal settings.