European Commission Highlights New Democracy Research
A new publication details 27 research projects aimed at strengthening democratic governance and citizen participation.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Civic Engagement
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The European Commission has released a booklet showcasing 27 research projects derived from the 2025 Cluster 2 call for proposals. These initiatives focus on enhancing democratic governance and increasing citizen participation across the European Union.
Why it matters
The research projects address significant democratic challenges identified by the Commission, including the decline in electoral turnout and the spread of mis- and disinformation. This work utilizes social sciences and humanities to develop solutions for safeguarding institutional stability.
The publication features 27 distinct research projects funded under the 2025 Cluster 2 'Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society' call for proposals. These efforts prioritize addressing threats to the rule of law and political polarization within the EU.
The players
European Commission
The executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU budget.
The details
The report highlights critical trends such as the increasing personalisation of politics and growing polarization amplified by digital misinformation. By leveraging social sciences and humanities, these projects seek to reverse the decline in voter participation for both national and European elections.
Timeline
The Cluster 2 call for proposals took place throughout 2025.
Political Context
The research follows the priorities established by the European Union's Cluster 2 research framework regarding democratic engagement. This story highlights the latest set of projects commissioned under the existing European Union's Cluster 2 research framework.
These research findings inform future policy directions that could impact how citizens interact with EU institutions and national voting processes. Citizens may see new civic engagement tools or public education initiatives resulting from these academic findings.
The takeaway
These research projects demonstrate a proactive approach to utilizing data-driven humanities to counter political polarization. Readers can monitor how these academic insights are translated into actionable policies at both the regional and national levels.
Further reading
Learn more about ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional health in the Civic Engagement section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Gv.
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