DeFacto Consultancy is committed to advancing science in Montenegro, with a particular focus on strengthening the quality, status, and interconnectedness of the social sciences. In line with this mission, the agency supported the organisation of the first international conference of the Montenegrin Political Science Association (MoPSA) and the Faculty of Political Science of the University of Montenegro, held on 29–30 May 2025 under the theme “Democratic Resilience in Challenging Times”.
The conference brought together more than 50 scholars from 28 countries who, through panel discussions and presentations, exchanged arguments and research insights on one of the most pressing issues of our time – safeguarding democratic values in the face of global and local crises.
The event was opened by Prof. Dr Olivera Komar, President of MoPSA; Mr. Marko Vukašinović, Director General of the Directorate for International Cooperation, European Integration and EU Funds at the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation; Ms. Kirsten Shoenefeld, Director of the Regional Office for Montenegro and Serbia of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation; and Dr. Slaven Živković, Director of DeFacto Consultancy.
The keynote speakers were distinguished international experts: Prof. Dr Wolfgang Merkel (WZB Berlin Social Science Center and the Democracy Institute at the Central European University in Budapest), Prof. Dr Rut Desonevil (Faculty of Social Sciences, Leuven), and Prof. Dr Jan Zielonka (University of Oxford and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice).
This conference marks an important step in strengthening Montenegro’s academic community and connecting it with the international research arena, creating new opportunities for partnerships, projects, and knowledge exchange.
