Ivan Obadić is an Assistant Professor in the Chair of General History of Law and State at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Law, which he joined in 2010.
He graduated in History from the University of Zagreb Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in 2006 and in Law from the University of Zagreb Faculty of Law in 2007. He earned a Master of Science (MSc) from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2008, and a Master of Research (MRes) in 2013 and a PhD in 2017 from the European University Institute in Florence. In 2021, he was a Junior Fellow at the University of Graz within the “Dimensions of Europeanization” programme. His awards and scholarships include the University of Zagreb Rector’s Award, the LSE Graduate Merit Award and an Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs scholarship for doctoral studies.
His research interests include legal and political history; the history of European integration and institutions; and the development of political accountability, academic freedom, and university autonomy. He teaches general legal history and European integration, including courses delivered in English.
From 2020 to 2023, he led the Erasmus+-funded Jean Monnet Module “Development of European Integration and Institutions”. He has participated in national and international research projects, including “The European Commission (1986–2000): History and Memories of an Institution” (HistCom 3) and “Integration and Disintegration of the European Union: Dynamics of Europeanism and Euroscepticism” (IDEU). He also co-led the Croatian expert team for the euandi2019 project.
He is the author of Akademske slobode u prijedlozima novih zakona [Academic Freedom in Draft Legislation] (2022) and co-editor of Izborni sustav i politička odgovornost – dileme i perspektive [The Electoral System and Political Accountability: Dilemmas and Perspectives] (2025). He publishes scholarly and professional work and contributes to public debates on higher education, the rule of law and political accountability.
He previously served as President of the University Council and President of the Ethics Council of the University of Zagreb. He is a member of the Centre for Democracy and Law Miko Tripalo and has served as the European University Institute’s Alumni Chapter Ambassador for Croatia since 2025.
