14.10.2025

Time to reset! How can we revitalise European democracies? • 14 October 2025

Time to reset! How can we revitalise European democracies?

With: Ana Catarina Mendes MEP, Dan Slater (University of Michigan), Rachel Beatty Riedl (Cornell University), Anil Duman (Central European University), Rebekka Kesberg (University of Sussex), Thamy Pogrebinschi (WZB Berlin Social Science Centre), Matthias Ecke MEP, Jakub Kocjan (Akcja Demokracja), Jeroen Beirnaert (ITUC), Alberto Alemanno (HEC Paris), Anja Neundorf (University of Glasgow), Tarik Abou-Chadi (Oxford University) and more leading voices in democracy and political science.

Democracy under pressure

In recent years, illiberal right-wing political parties and candidates, which challenge established democratic norms and principles, have experienced many electoral successes. These successes – including Donald Trump, Herbert Kickl and the FPÖ in Austria and Marine Le Pen and the RN in France in 2024, as well as PiS-backed presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki in Poland in 2025 – often seem to catch us by surprise as we are still struggling to identify the reasons behind them. We therefore need new ideas to better understand the current challenges facing liberal and social democracies.

On one hand, we need to make people aware of the threats from illiberal and far right politics and why everybody has to worry about and defend democracy. Not only do we have to convince people (once again) that civil liberties and an independent judiciary are essential elements in advanced democracies. We also have to better protect people from information manipulation and illiberal right-wing propaganda, both on- and offline. On the other hand, our democracies also have to improve people's daily lives and strengthen their ties to democracy through better governance and tangible outcomes.

Countering the rise of the far right

Accordingly, this year, the Brussels Democracy Dialogue interrogated our established explanations of these phenomena. Together with experts on progressive democracy from politics, academia, trade unions and civil society in Europe and beyond, we debated new solutions with a view to successfully countering the rise of illiberal right-wing forces and revitalising European democracies.

Our moderator was Jacki Davis, Senior Adviser at the European Policy Centre (EPC).

About Brussels Democracy Dialogue

The Brussels Democracy Dialogue (BDD) is a high-level platform for the exchange of progressive ideas and proposals for addressing the abovementioned challenges to democracies. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung EU Office in Brussels and the FES Democracy of the Future Office in Vienna are organising it in Brussels, with and for around 100 progressive democracy experts from politics, academia, trade unions and civil society from Europe and beyond.

The aim of the BDD is to question our established explanations and to offer new and innovative solutions that can help progressive actors successfully to confront the recent global trend of democratic backsliding. There is a particular focus on how social democracy can be defended and how it should respond to the current challenges.

To read further, explore the Brussels Democracy Dialogue 2024 and the Brussels Democracy Papers, a series of policy briefs developed from last year's event.

The sessions at Brussels Democracy Dialogue 2025

How can we engage citizens in defending democracy?

An image shows Prof. Dan Slater and Ana Catarina Mendes MEP at Brussels Democracy Dialogue 2025. — © Bernal Revert

In recent decades, democracies have become more inclusive and pluralistic, yet these changes often occurred without broad consultation or participation of the wider society. This has left liberal elements of democracy increasingly exposed to attacks by authoritarian-minded politicians in many countries. The opening session explored ways to encourage citizens to reconnect with democracy. The speakers — Ana Catarina Mendes MEP, Rachel Beatty Riedl from Cornell University, Dan Slater from the University of Michigan, and Jakub Kocjan from Akcja Demokracja — discussed how progressive actors can develop narratives that are emotionally resonant and persuasive, demonstrating that democracy is indeed at risk and worth defending.

How can European democracies deliver better results?

A photograph shows Anil Duman from Central European University, Jeroen Beirnaert from the International Trade Union Confederation, and Tarik Abou-Chadi from the University of Oxford at Brussels Democracy Dialogue 2025. — © Bernal Revert

Many voters appear willing to prioritize economic benefits over democratic norms and principles. Authoritarian-minded actors have exploited this tendency, consolidating power by providing direct material advantages to their constituents. By contrast, speeches by progressive actors about the long-term struggle against economic inequality often appear too abstract or insufficient for many voters. The speakers — Anil Duman from Central European University, Jeroen Beirnaert from the International Trade Union Confederation, and Tarik Abou-Chadi from the University of Oxford — explored what a social democratic vision for improved economic governance might entail.

The European Democracy Shield and combating radical-right disinformation

A photograph shows Rebekka Kesberg from the University of Sussex and Bharath Ganesh from the University of Amsterdam at the Brussels Democracy Dialogue 2025. — © Bernal Revert

Foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) has emerged as one of the greatest threats to democracies, not only in Europe but worldwide. The far right uses modern online and media tools, including AI, to spread disinformation and manipulate voters globally. Tech oligarchs often support illiberal right-wing politicians and activists on social media while simultaneously undermining independent media. In this context, the European Commission’s proposed European Democracy Shield aims to strengthen protections against such threats. In the third session, the speakers — Rebekka Kesberg from the University of Sussex, Bharath Ganesh from the University of Amsterdam, Valeriu Pasa of WatchDog.MD, and Alice Stollmeyer from Defend Democracy — debated whether the initiative can effectively counter disinformation and safeguard electoral integrity.

Rethinking (social) democracy: where can we find a new democratic vision?

A photograph shows Thamy Pogrebinschi from WZB Berlin Social Science Center and Anja Neundorf from the University of Glasgow at Brussels Democracy Dialogue 2025. — © Bernal Revert

Trump and the tech oligarchs appear to be undermining the world’s oldest democracy and inspiring autocratically inclined leaders worldwide to emulate them. In Europe, far-right parties are encouraged by the perception that society is shifting toward a system in which checks and balances, rule of law, and citizen participation are diminishing. In general, people seem open to systemic disruption and fundamental change. The final session invited participants to look ahead and consider where a new democratic vision might emerge. The speakers — Evin Incir MEP, Thamy Pogrebinschi from WZB Berlin Social Science Center, Alberto Alemanno from HEC Paris / Harvard University, and Anja Neundorf from the University of Glasgow — discussed how pluralistic and liberal democracies could be revitalized through bold transnational cooperation and innovative approaches.

Picture Gallery

© Bernal Revert

Brussels Democracy Papers

Why European Leaders Should Craft Inclusive Nationalisms

Tudor, Maya

Why European leaders should craft inclusive nationalisms

Brussels/Vienna, 2025

more information

Download publication (115 KB, PDF-File)

Investing in Democracy Means Fighting Income Inequality

Stokes, Susan

Investing in democracy means fighting income inequality

Brussels/Vienna, 2025

more information

Download publication (130 KB, PDF-File)

Resisting Democratic Backsliding: The Urgency of Transnational Cooperation

Sobovitz, Dan; Preiss, Omri

Resisting democratic backsliding

The urgency of transnational cooperation
Brussels/Vienna, 2025

more information

Download publication (110 KB, PDF-File)

Contact

FES Regional Office for International Cooperation

Democracy of the Future

+43 (0) 1 890 3811 305
democracy.vienna(at)fes.de

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