Is political trust eroding under the pressure of crises and growing polarisation? Across Europe, citizens are confronted with intensifying divides over issues such as immigration, climate change, and gender equality. These divides increasingly shape political attitudes and behaviours, challenging the legitimacy of democratic institutions and weakening the foundations of representative democracy.
The Horizon Europe-funded project “ActEU – Activating European Citizens’ Trust in Times of Crises and Polarization” has been at the forefront of understanding how trust and legitimacy can be rebuilt in Europe’s multi-level democracies. By pioneering innovative methods to conceptualise and measure political trust – ranging from focus groups and experimental surveys to web scraping – ActEU has brought fresh insight into how polarization affects citizens’ perceptions of democracy, and what can be done to strengthen democratic resilience.
As this vital project enters its final phase, TEPSA organised its final conference: “Detached, distrustful, disengaged? Rethinking democracy in today’s Europe”. A forum to exchange narratives, spotlight innovative tools and methodologies, and advance actionable solutions to support the future of representative democracy in Europe.
We brought together experts and practitioners who discussed these issues through a variety of panel discussions on 5 February 2026, at the Press Club Brussels Europe, Rue Froissart 95, 1040 Brussels.
What kind of democracy do we need in an unstable world? | Keynote speech by André Sobczak
Can we still trust democracy? | First panel with live-polling
“Us” vs. “them”? Culture wars and polarisation in our everyday life | Second panel
Who gets heard? Making voices count in European democracies | Third Panel
From protests to power: What makes participation matter? | Fourth panel
In parallel, ActEU has explored innovative formats to connect academic research with wider audiences. As part of this effort, the project collaborated with professional political cartoonists to translate key research findings on political trust, polarisation, and democratic legitimacy into visual narratives. These original cartoons offer an accessible and thought-provoking perspective on the project’s core themes and are exhibited for three weeks at the Press Club Brussels Europe, accompanying the final conference and extending the discussion beyond traditional academic and policy circles.
