In June, Claudiu presented his latest research paper, “From Observation to Opinion: Investigating the Impact of Protest Exposure on Public Attitudes Across Five Democracies,” at the Workshop on Political Behaviour in Central and Eastern Europe, hosted by the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence.

The paper explores a timely issue in contemporary democratic engagement: the evolving nature of protests and their implications for public attitudes. Building on empirical insights from Romania, the UK, Spain, Germany, and Hungary, the research employs a panel survey design to understand how individuals’ spatial and temporal proximity to protests influences their attitudes toward critical societal issues. Protests, both online and offline, play a pivotal role in shaping public discourse, mobilizing collective identities, and challenging dominant political narratives. While offline protests create visible disruptions that can alter public attention and media agendas, online protest activity increasingly facilitates rapid dissemination of information and expands the reach of collective action beyond geographic constraints.

The workshop at the EUI represented an opportunity for Claudiu to discuss these ideas along with his research design with leading scholars and practitioners, exchanging thoughts on the complex interactions of political behaviour in contemporary democracies. A particular highlight for Claudiu was a compelling lecture on populism delivered by Hanspeter Kriesi, coincidentally marking his final lecture at the EUI. The engaging discussions and insightful feedback made for a wonderful academic exchange.