Redressing Radical Polarisation: Strengthening European Civil Spheres facing Illiberal Digital Media“(DepolarisingEU) is an innovative international collaborative project network awarded funding by the European Union. This four-year initiative, which commenced in November 2023, and concludes in November 2027, aims to tackle the escalating phenomenon of radical polarisation while bolstering democratic values and civil discourse across Europe.

Polarisation has become increasingly pervasive in liberal democratic societies, posing significant challenges to tolerance, openness, and civil discourse. The DepolarisingEU network seeks to address this pressing issue by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and developing effective interventions to mitigate uncivil and undemocratic partisanship.

Led by a distinguished team of scholars from esteemed institutions across Europe and the United States, including Dr. María Luengo Cruz, Associate Professor of Journalism (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid) as the Action Chair and Prof. Bernadette Nadya Jaworsky (Masaryk University) as the Action Vice Chair, the project network will leverage the expertise of its members to advance understanding of radical polarisation and promote depolarisation strategies.

This initiative represents a crucial step towards countering the divisive forces of radical polarisation and strengthening European civil spheres. By engaging with civil and media organizations, it aims to foster pluralism and enhance democratic values in the digital age.

The DepolarisingEU network will employ a multifaceted approach, drawing on cultural sociology and civil sphere theory to provide a normative framework for understanding and addressing radical polarisation. Through collaborative research, the network seeks to identify best practices and develop practical tools to counter, redress, and prevent radical polarisation effectively.