In the era of post-truth politics, where emotional appeals and misinformation often overshadow objective facts, liberal democracies face unprecedented challenges. To counter these challenges, there is a pressing need to re-evaluate how information is disseminated and consumed and to assess liberal democracies’ ability to adapt and implement strategies that reinforce democratic values while countering the influence of post-truth politics.
In light of these developments, a key question arises: How can liberal democracies effectively counter the populist challenges posed by post-truth politics in the 21st century?
To discuss these issues, TEPSA launched a student paper contest, “Future-proofing liberal democracy: strategies for resilience in an era of post-truth politics“, organised in the context of the RECLAIM – Reclaiming Liberal Democracy in a Post-Factual Age Horizon Europe project. This was a unique opportunity for young professionals to contribute to this debate, reach possible solutions, and share their insights.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The contest was open to all University students above 18 years old (including Bachelor, Master, and PhD students) and young researchers (< 30 years old). All nationalities were welcome to participate in the contest. Participants were asked to submit a paper or policy brief (2000 words maximum – without space), including a set of recommendations to (EU) policy-makers, responding to one or more of the three questions below:
- How can liberal democracies adapt their political and social structures to withstand the rise of populist movements without compromising democratic values in a post-truth era?
- What legal and regulatory measures can be implemented to hold social media platforms accountable for the spread of false information in the era of post-truth politics without infringing on free speech?
- What lessons can be learned from countries that have successfully resisted the rise of populism and maintained democratic integrity in a post-truth era?
APPLICATION PROCEDURE, PRIZES & RECOGNITION
The call for papers closed on Sunday 18 May 2025 (midnight). The papers were assessed by the TEPSA secretariat and two were chosen as winners:
- “Mind the gap: Rethinking EU strategic communications on sactions” by Lorenzo Avesani;
- “Let’s get local: How community-driven initiatives can solve local problems and promote democracy” by Susana Patricia Noguera Montoya.
They were published by TEPSA on its website and publicised through its social media channels. The winning authors will also be awarded with:
- The participation free of charge in the RECLAIM final conference, taking place in Brussels on 27 June 2025, with travel and accommodations reimbursed up until €500.
- The opportunity to present their policy recommendations to researchers from the RECLAIM project in Brussels.
