Lund University will partner in and coordinate two research projects that involve the future of European democracy. One will examine extremism and polarisation, while the other will look at EU enlargement.
"This demonstrates Lund University's capacity to both lead and contribute to major international research collaborations on issues of direct relevance to Europe's democratic future," says Anamaria Dutceac, senior lecturer in European Studies at Lund University, who will lead one of the projects.
DEEP DIALOGUE (De-Escalating Extremism & Polarisation through Dialogue) is being coordinated by Lund University. It looks at how polarisation, disinformation, and extremism can develop into radicalisation among young people, and how dialogue-based interventions can support trust, participation and social cohesion.
OWN-EU (Enhancing the success of enlargement through the political ownership - territorial capital nexus), where Lund University is a partner, examines how political ownership, territorial capital and regional differences shape the success and sustainability of future EU enlargement in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans.
Both projects aim to move beyond academic analysis and produce knowledge, tools and recommendations that can be used by policymakers, practitioners and civil society.
" This research has the clear potential to inform future policy debates and decisions, particularly on how Europe responds to democratic vulnerability and future EU enlargement," concludes Anamaria Dutceac.
About the projects:
Both DEEP DIALOGUE and OWN-EU are funded under Horizon Europe Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society, within the Democracy area. Each project has received approximately €3.5 million in EU funding, and both will start on 1 September 2026.
DEEP DIALOGUE gathers an international consortium of 14 partners from eight countries within science, innovation, and outreach. This cross-disciplinary project will involve Lund University researchers from the Faculties of Humanities and Theology, Social Sciences, and Fine and Performing Arts.
In the call where DEEP DIALOGUE was funded, 3 out of 80 applications were successful.
