Senna Šimek

PhD Candidate in Modern and Contemporary Croatian History in European and Global Context
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Croatia

Visiting Fellowship 2025/26 (October 15, 2025 – December 15, 2025)

Senna Šimek is a PhD candidate in Modern and Contemporary Croatian History in European and Global Context at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb. She is currently a PhD candidate in Modern and Contemporary Croatian History in European and Global Context at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb. Her research focuses on narratives created by Croatian political actors about Croatia’s role in the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, exploring how these narratives have been used to shape collective memory, political identities, and contemporary agendas. She holds master’s degrees in both Modern and Contemporary History and Political Science at the University of Zagreb. Her research interests lie in the intellectual history and history of political thought, with a particular focus on post-Yugoslav political narratives and their instrumentalization in the 1990s wars and post-conflict contexts. She has professional experience in the NGO sector, particularly in transitional justice, human rights education, and post-conflict reconciliation initiatives.

Research Interests:

• Post-Yugoslav narratives
• Politics of memory
• Transitional justice
• Intellectual history
• Political myths
• Nation-building

Statement of interest

During my stay at the Institute of Contemporary History, I aim to further develop the theoretical and methodological framework of my doctoral research, particularly by combining approaches from intellectual history and the history of political thought. The fellowship will allow me to access new sources and perspectives, while engaging in useful exchange with scholars working on related topics. I also see this fellowship as an opportunity to strengthen academic cooperation between Croatian and Slovenian researchers through ongoing discussions about potential joint projects. By working in a stimulating international environment, I hope to refine my research questions and contribute to a deeper understanding of post-Yugoslav political narratives and their role in shaping collective memory and contemporary politics.

Selected publications

• Šimek, S. (2023). Analysis of the Representation of National Minorities in Croatian Textbooks and Curricular Documents. Co-authored with Dr. Dejan Stjepanović, University of Dundee.
• Šimek, S. (2022). Lijepa li si: The Role of Marko Perković Thompson’s Music in Constructing Croatian National Identity. In: Is This a Country for All of Us? A Collection of Research Articles on the Causes and Consequences of Nationalist Trends in Croatia. Youth Initiative for Human Rights.