Pudar Draško Gazela

Pudar Draško Gazela serves as Director of the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory at the University of Belgrade and holds the position of Senior Research Fellow. She actively participates in the Coordinating Board of the Regional Network of Advanced Studies Centers in Southeast Europe, fostering cross-institutional academic collaboration.

Her research centers on deliberative democracy and participatory democratic innovations, with significant contributions to political sociology through analyses of social movements and gender studies. Gazela champions evidence-based social sciences and practical applications of participatory governance frameworks across Southeast European contexts.

Under her leadership, the Institute houses specialized laboratories including EduLab (Educational Theories), DigiLab (Digital Society), GenLab (Gender Research), ShoahLab (Holocaust Studies), SolidCareLab (Philanthropy and Solidarity), ActiveLab (Active Citizenship), CriticLab (Social Critique), PerspectLab (Spatial Politics), and YugoLab (Socialism and Post-Yugoslav Studies), alongside Religious Studies and SENTIENCE research groups.

Gazela's academic leadership extends to the Institute's publishing initiatives, including the journals "Philosophy and Society" and "Critique: Journal for Philosophy and Theory of Society", and public engagement through the "Sound of thoughts – IFDT podcast" and guest lecture series focused on engaged scholarship.