Abstract:
In recent years, populism has surged significantly across Europe, with populist parties now increasingly represented in the parliaments of nearly every European country. Many citizens align themselves with the ideologies and movements associated with populism. In response to this phenomenon, the We-Europeans project, funded by the European Union, aims to combat populism by promoting European citizenship values. This research presents the project's objectives, partnership, methods, and finally evaluates initial results and the impact. Our results are important since we are in a European elections year.
The We-Europeans project focuses on addressing populism's rise through the development of educational materials that tackle the factual and emotional aspects of the issue. The project embodies an optimistic spirit, with its main goal being to strengthen European citizenship values and build citizens' competences on this topic.
The success of We-Europeans relies on collaborations with various European organizations, each contributing with their unique expertise, to achieve its objectives of promoting European citizenship. This strategic partnership brings expertise in international education, cultural integration, intercultural activities, social inclusion, and civic education. The University of Aveiro brings its research profile and international network to this project.
The project's Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), one of the more recent outputs, covers various aspects of populism with freely accessible modules, including topics like: Discussing Populism and Extremism, Psychosocial Approaches: Communication and Social Analysis in
Polarized Contexts, Communicating and Countering on Social Media, Building Resilience Against Populism: Developing a New Positive Narrative, Enhancing Citizens, Skills and Activation Strategies and Taking a Public Stand Against Populism.
Since the summer of 2022, We-Europeans has been publishing content and promoting live events to encourage reflection and idea exchange. Initial results indicate promising impacts on awareness and promotion of European values.
To evaluate the effectiveness of the MOOC developed in the We-Europeans project, a surveybased methodology was used. This methodology involved several steps. First, detailed questionnaires were developed with closed and open questions covering different dimensions to be assessed in the MOOC, such as content clarity, platform usability, and perceived impact on understanding the topics. Next, a representative sample of students enrolled in the MOOC was selected. The surveys were then distributed, and it was ensured anonymity and confidentiality. The collected data was analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods, including descriptive statistics for closed responses and content analysis for open responses.
This project intends to be a crucial initiative for combating populism in Europe. With strategic partnerships, robust educational content, and an open exchange platform, the project is wellpositioned to promote European citizenship values and reinforce resistance against populist movements. As the project progresses, its contribution to a more informed and cohesive Europe will be vital for the continent's future. This project intends to be a crucial initiative for combating populism in Europe and to give citizens instruments to do so.
