Democratic Expeditions 2025

Contesting the Far Right, Safeguarding Democracy

Comparative Insights from Europe and Latin America

Far-right movements have gained strength across the globe, challenging democratic norms and institutions. While in Europe the far right has consolidated its presence in mainstream politics and governments, in Latin America it has risen to prominence in contexts marked by political instability. These trends present critical threats to liberal democratic values, from the normalization of hate and exclusion to the erosion of institutional checks and balances. 

This workshop seeks to identify and evaluate the most effective mechanisms to counter the far-right’s influence, focusing on comparative insights from Europe and Latin America. By exploring strategies across different political contexts, the event aims to advance our understanding of how democracies can resist far-right extremism and safeguard liberal values. 

See the full program.


Read the policy papers based on the workshop's results

Anja Neundorf on civic education

Neundorf, Anja

Reclaiming democracy through online civic education

Download publication


Go to Publication


Daphne Halikiopoulou on arenas of far-right threats

Halikiopoulou, Daphne

Arenas of far-right threat and democratic resilience

Download publication


Go to Publication


Talita Tanscheit and Léonie de Jonge on lessons from Brazil

São Thiago Tanscheit, Talita ; Jonge, Léonie de

How to counter the far right: lessons from Brazil

Download publication


Go to Publication


Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser on lessons for defending democracy

Rovira Kaltwasser, Cristóbal

Rejecting the far-right: lessons for defending democracy

Download publication


Go to Publication


Lisa Zanotti and Hugo Marcos-Marné on far-right rhetoric

Zanotti, Lisa ; Marcos-Marné, Hugo

Tracing illiberal talk: how far-right rhetoric erodes democracy before policies change

Download publication


Go to Publication


Carlos Meléndez on the scarecrow of communism

Meléndez Guerrero, Carlos

The scarecrow of communism: understanding and confronting anti-communist rhetoric in contemporary politics

Download publication


Go to Publication



About Democratic Expeditions

Expeditions are organized journeys into uncharted territory.

Democratic Expeditions are openly sourced, carefully crafted international research workshops that explore underexamined dimensions of democratic crises and democratizing struggles. The initiative is a joint venture of the CEU Democracy Institute’s Research Group on De- and Re-Democratization , the CEU Department of Political Science , and the FES Regional Office for International Cooperation, Democracy of the Future .