Trust in democratic institutions has declined significantly in the past two decades across Europe, contributing to the rise of populist, radical-right parties and an increase in political polarization. This trend has been accompanied by a decrease in satisfaction with democracy and heightened support for alternative modes of non-democratic governance, such as strongman and military rule. These developments raise the question of whether liberal democracy can weather this storm, or if a new global order marked by autocratic rule is poised to overtake it. Scandinavian/Nordic countries have, thus far, proven more capable of maintaining high levels of institutional and societal trust, although some erosion of trust has occurred here as well. Worryingly, Norway recently recorded a 16% decrease in trust in government institutions since 2021, the most significant decline among OECD countries. 

Team Democratic Resilience is an interdisciplinary group of researchers working in the fields of political science, political philosophy, social anthropology, economics, and technology management. Our goals are threefold:

First, given that maintaining trust in political and societal institutions is fundamental to the long-term survival of democracies, our objective is to trace the historical origins of high trust levels in the Scandinavian/Nordic region. Scandinavian/Nordic countries exhibit low levels of corruption, provide effective public services, and embrace a generous welfare state. We consider how these factors impact social cohesion and social capital with the aim of identifying the Scandinavian/Nordic “recipe for success,” and evaluate how this recipe can be replicated in other countries. 

Second, we focus on understanding the challenges facing modern states in maintaining democratic resilience. Among these, we examine the effects of rising economic inequality, the proliferation of mis- and disinformation, and heightened polarization. We investigate strategies that governments can employ to address these challenges, such as emphasizing socio-economic rights through redistributive policies that empower citizens and build solidarity, mitigating the appeal of authoritarian populism, and mediating societal disagreements that stem from conflicting beliefs about factual reality. 

Third, we explore the possibilities for democratic innovation and experimentation as modes of creative democratic resistance and resilience. Contemporary liberal democracies are marked by a widening gap between the democratic ideals of citizens and the performance of electoral democracy in achieving those ideals. Against this backdrop, there is an increasing call for democratic experimentation that challenges us to rethink the meaning of democracy and to innovate alternatives that break free from the confines of traditional political structures. How can governments and citizens contribute to the revival of various forms of deliberative public assemblies and engagement with democratic digital platforms?