MEDIAPOP – Media, Populism and Political Stability in the European Union
Project Focus
The MEDIAPOP project (Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence) addresses the rise of populism as a symptom of a political crisis, compounded by profound changes in the media landscape (the crisis of traditional media, disinformation). The core objective is to revitalize European democracy by strengthening both participatory and representative dimensions, supported by free and professional media. The project achieves this through open teaching, cutting-edge research, public debates, and policy recommendations for stakeholders and policymakers.
Short Project Description
The project Media, Populism and Political Stability in the European Union (MEDIAPOP) addresses ongoing developments in politics and media across Europe. It posits that the rise of populism in Europe is a reaction to the anomalies and (unintended) consequences of globalization, serving as a symptom of a crisis within established politics and structural shortcomings at both national and European levels.
Furthermore, the proliferation of populist messages is inherently linked to profound transformations within the media sphere, particularly the crisis of traditional media and journalism. The appeal of populism is significantly amplified by the commercialization and tabloidisation of the media on one hand, and the mediatisation of politics on the other. Populists effectively utilize diverse media channels, which frequently serve as vectors for the spread of disinformation.
Preserving, strengthening, and legitimizing European democracy requires enhancing institutional efficiency in terms of problem-solving capacity, responsiveness, and accountability to citizens. Moreover, it presupposes the consolidation of a shared European identity. These challenges will be analyzed through open teaching, public debates, research, and tailor-made recommendations for policymakers and other stakeholders. We emphasize the need to revitalize European democracy by combining participatory and representative aspects, driven by an active citizenry and free, professional media, thereby rendering populist narratives less attractive.
MEDIAPOP integrates three academic courses (Challenges of Modern Society; European Values and Identity; Media, Globalization and Culture) alongside summer schools specifically dedicated to examining the intersections of media, populism, and European democracy.
Contact: info@fame.si
The project is funded by the European Union.