Brussels Democracy Papers: How to Transition to Sustainable Democracies?

In her Brussels Democracy Paper, Prof. Maya Tudor argues that defenders of democracy must confront the power of nationalism — not by rejecting it, but by reshaping it. Across the globe, populist leaders have mobilised exclusionary national identities to justify attacks on civil liberties and marginalise dissent. In doing so, they erode the very foundations of democratic society. Tudor makes the case that European leaders have a unique opportunity — and responsibility — to craft inclusive forms of nationalism that reflect the growing plurality of their societies. Doing so can help rebuild social cohesion, foster trust, and counter the rise of divisive populism.

Over the past 50 years, democracies around the world have become more unequal and increasingly frayed by backsliding leaders. In her Brussels Democracy Paper, Susan Stokes explores how these two trends are connected, showing that policies aimed at reducing income inequality are not only economically and morally necessary, but also essential for safeguarding democracy.

Democracy is under increasing threat - in Europe and worldwide. Independent institutions erode, the information space suffers from manipulation and electoral processes face sustained attacks. In response, transnational cooperation has become even more critical. In their Brussels Democracy Paper, Dan Sobovitz and Omri Preiss therefore examine the need for a unified defense against authoritarian forces, highlighting how movements like DemoCrisis are leading efforts to bring together pro-democracy actors across Europe and its neighbourhood.