At a time when democracy is under pressure both within and around the European Union, EMBRACE explores what it means to defend democratic values in an increasingly complex world.
In this five-part series, activists, advocates, and researchers from the EMBRACE consortium share on-the-ground perspectives from some of the EU’s most critical neighbouring regions. From resisting authoritarianism in Algeria and Belarus, to grassroots movements in Serbia and Tunisia, to navigating geopolitical tensions in Georgia and North Macedonia, to working or democracy during war in Gaza and Ukraine — this podcast brings you personal stories, expert insights, and lessons learned from those at the front lines of democratic resilience.
Whether you're a student, policymaker, or curious citizen, tune in to understand the challenges and hopes shaping democracy beyond the EU’s borders — and discover how you can get involved.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
At a time when democracy is under pressure both within and around the European Union, EMBRACE explores what it means to defend democratic values in an increasingly complex world.
In this five-part series, activists, advocates, and researchers from the EMBRACE consortium share on-the-ground perspectives from some of the EU’s most critical neighbouring regions. From resisting authoritarianism in Algeria and Belarus, to grassroots movements in Serbia and Tunisia, to navigating geopolitical tensions in Georgia and North Macedonia, to working or democracy during war in Gaza and Ukraine — this podcast brings you personal stories, expert insights, and lessons learned from those at the front lines of democratic resilience.
Whether you're a student, policymaker, or curious citizen, tune in to understand the challenges and hopes shaping democracy beyond the EU’s borders — and discover how you can get involved.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the intro episode for EMBRACE Democracy: Reflections from the European Neighbourhood, host Johanna Hülzer sat down with Professors Sonja Grimm and Karina Shyrokykh, members of the EMBRACE Consortium and engaged researchers, educators, and advocates for democracy to explain the research project behind this deceptively simple question.
They reflect on the three-year journey across diverse countries and political landscapes, findings from the project's multidisciplinary research, how European Union democracy support can meet the real world in all its messiness and contradictions, and their advice for listeners interested in a similar career path.
This discussion takes you on a deep dive into the motivations behind the project, explores the world of democracy promotion, explains how it is under pressure not only from the outside, but from within the EU, and how voices on the ground can be uplifted at a time when backsliding democracies and rising authoritarianism are shrinking the space for opposition to act.
EMBRACE is a research project that investigates how the EU helps to overcome blockages to democracy in the European Neighbourhood. The project is funded by the Horizon Europe Scheme.
If this or any other episode in the series resonates with you, please share it, subscribe, and leave us a review. You can find more information on the project and additional resources and our publications on our website: www.embrace-democracy.eu. If you would like to get in touch, you can reach us at embrace@berghof-foundation.org.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.