“Democracy Rebound”: А research agenda to counter contemporary autocratization and authoritarian rhetoric

This text outlines a rationale for a concerted, interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral research agenda, called “Democracy Rebound,” as a reaction against contemporary autocratization and the rise of authoritarianism. The agenda proposes research activities that explain the historical and political contexts and the social, discursive and psychological drivers of authoritarian tendencies in Europe today. It recommends four steps towards explaining how authoritarian projects mobilize identity and affect via digital discourse to normalize leader-centered power and illiberal, anti-rational ideologies, often disguised as tradition. The agenda is rooted in a comprehensive literature review and motivated by the need for Europe-wide actions and research-based recommendations that equip policymakers, journalists, educators, and civil society with actionable intelligence, tools, and early warnings to detect and reverse democratic backsliding.