In Work Package 1 (Illiberal democracy and right-wing politics), the three ESRs examined various processes underpinning the development of ‘illiberal democracy’, highlighting the centrality of traditionalism, an-ti-modernism, anti-colonialism, militarism and religion in a range of case studies. In analysing the construction of the ‘people’ in populist discourse, for example, ESR03 identified how the Ukrainian far-right group Svoboda foregrounds young people in constructing the ‘Ukrainian people’ free from foreign influence, while the Alliance of Patriots of Georgia highlights Georgian traditions, appealing to nostalgic sentiment toward a bygone age when the nation was great.
In Work Package 2 (Politics of memory), the three researchers analysed the role of memory in populist politics, demonstrating how history can be manipulated and instrumentalised by populist actors to mobilise (potential) supporters; to legitimise closer or more distant relations between neighbouring states; and, to justify kin-state policies across borders. In her analysis of far-right movements in Eastern Germany, ESR04 demonstrates how historical references to Eastern Germany’s past inspire the discursive construction of far-right activism as ‘democratic’ and the current political establishment, the counter-demonstrators and Islam as ‘leftist-totalitarian’.
In Work Package 3 (Economic populism and inequality), the three researchers looked at the factors underpinning the emergence of economic populism and its contradictory impact on economic growth and convergence among the CEE economies as well as on inequality across the region. In his analysis of the applicability of the concept of economic populism, ESR09 finds that, on the demand side, institutional trust moderates the relationship between the high levels of economic insecurity and populist voting, increasing the propensity to vote among those voter groups who experience economic hardship and who mistrust institutions.
In Work Package 4 (Cultures of reaction: xenophobia, anti-Semitism, homophobia, anti-migrant sentiment), the ESRs discussed how politicians weaponise ethno-cultural difference and/or manipulate shared histories to create social hierarchies within their states. In his research on the weaponisation of Islamophobia, ESR11 demonstrated that inter-personal contacts between ethnic Czechs and ‘relatable subtypes of Muslims’ (e.g. kebab-shop owners or doctors) broke down essentialising stereotypes and helped reduce prejudice. To ensure Muslims were not simply treated as objects of research, ESR11 gave voice to members of the Muslim community, allowing them to share their stories (good and bad) of interacting with local Czechs.
In Work Package 5 (Civil society and protest movements), the ESRs highlighted the importance of framing, political opportunity structures, networks and the mobilisation of resources in the fight against populism and il-liberalism. In her research on the Polish women’s strike, ESR15 highlighted the essential role played by the “transnational feminist diaspora” of Polish women abroad who organised solidarity protests, building connections to Poland and each other. Such transnational connections became instrumental in expressing solidarity across borders and exchanging information about activities of the anti-gender actors in different national con-texts.
Overall, the programme raised the European and global level of expertise by addressing strategic challenges to liberal democracy from various perspectives and advancing the field of comparative and interdisciplinary area studies. Some ESRs have already completed their PhDs and are using the knowledge and skills acquired as a result of FATIGUE as research fellows, assistant professors and members of the EU diplomatic service.
