On Thursday, May 21st, 2026 at 12:00 PM (CET), we are hosting the CAS SEE Seminar with Ivan Cerovac on Weak Social Ties as a Ward Against Political Polarization in conversation with the RECAS Fellow Julija Perhat.
Ivan Cerovac
Ivan Cerovac is a Croatian philosopher and political theorist based at the University of Rijeka. His work focuses on political philosophy, particularly normative theories of justice, equality and the legitimacy of political institutions. He works primarily within the framework of contemporary analytic political philosophy, engaging with debates on distributive justice, egalitarianism and the justification of social and economic inequalities in liberal democracies. Cerovac also addresses questions of democratic legitimacy and political decision-making, including the relationship between expert knowledge and democratic participation, as well as the role of citizens in complex modern societies. In this context, he often explores issues in political epistemology and the conditions for informed democratic governance.
He has published academic articles on topics such as John Rawls's theory of justice, equality of opportunity, democratic equality, and related questions in contemporary normative political theory. In addition to journal articles, he has contributed to academic projects and conferences in political philosophy.
About the Seminar
Political polarization, driven by divisive social media, partisan mainstream media, and citizens' echo chambers, poses a significant 21st-century challenge. This study examines the disparity in political polarization between Europe and the United States, attributing it to the unequal distribution of weak social ties.
Weak ties, such as distant friends and acquaintances, expose individuals to diverse perspectives, fostering civil discourse and reducing animosity. Europe's stronger social safety nets and greater emphasis on collective responsibility facilitate the presence of weak ties, promoting exposure to differing viewpoints.
Given the difficulty of strengthening weak ties individually, the paper recommends government intervention through policies that foster social capital and facilitate exposure to weak ties in order to mitigate polarization.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88989643663?pwd=VnZTOWRmdnl0WEZIdTczc1paZWtkdz09
Meeting ID: 889 8964 3663
Passcode: 328897
Fellowships
Fellowships are supported by OSF Western Balkans, ERSTE Foundation and Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
UNIRI The Moise Palace: Cres Island
An education center of the University of Rijeka. A five-hundred-year-old patrician townhouse and the largest Renaissance palace on the Croatian islands. A venue and forum for various scientific and research activities, it welcomes visiting academics, students and scholars.
