Project description
Mapping territorial inequalities and democratic disengagement in Europe
Despite apparent convergence in national indicators, inequalities within European countries are widening, institutional trust is declining, and many territories experience perceptions of neglect and invisibility. The EU-funded JUSTPLACE project investigates how democratic disaffection emerges at the intersection of individual and territorial disadvantage, while examining how a people-in-places approach can help renew democratic resilience. Through comparative research, participatory experimentation using the Democracy Studios initiative established across seven pilot regions, and policy innovation activities, the project will gather evidence and real-world insights over a 36-month period. The project will also develop new tools, including a multi-level database, an interactive atlas and a simulation model to analyse territorial inequalities and democratic dynamics.
Objective
JUSTPLACE responds to a growing European paradox. While national indicators often point to convergence, inequalities within countries continue to widen, trust in institutions is weakening, and many territories experience a sense of neglect and invisibility. The project examines how democratic disaffection develops at the intersection of personal disadvantage and territorial disadvantage, and how a people-in-places approach can help renew democratic resilience. Its central ambition is to understand how cumulative inequalities shape political attitudes, participation, withdrawal, and protest across different types of territories, and to identify place-sensitive responses capable of rebuilding trust, recognition, and democratic legitimacy.
Over a period of 36 months, JUSTPLACE combines comparative research, participatory experimentation, and policy innovation. Democracy Studios in seven pilot regions will provide the participatory backbone of the project, ensuring that research remains closely connected to citizens’ lived experiences and to the specific realities of place. The consortium will develop a multi-level database and an interactive atlas, MAPDEM, to map inequalities, trust, institutional presence, and media deserts across European territories. It will also produce causal and spatial analyses of democratic disengagement and design CIVISIM, an agent-based model that will explore how territorial democratic futures may evolve under different policy and social scenarios.
The project will convert these findings into practical tools and policy resources for public authorities and stakeholders. These outputs include DEMOTRACK, a self-assessment tool for local and regional authorities, a series of policy briefs, and a European Charter for Territorial Justice. A replication roadmap for Democracy Studios will support transfer, adaptation, and uptake through European and regional networks.
JUSTPLACE will generate new evidence on the links between inequality, recognition, and democracy, while also delivering concrete instruments to help public authorities assess and strengthen democratic practice. In this way, the project aims to contribute to more visible, fair, and territorially responsive institutions across Europe.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences databases
- social sciences political sciences government systems democracy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.2 - Culture, creativity and inclusive society
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.2.1 - Democracy and Governance
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL2-2025-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
59800 Lille
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.