Destin Commun (More in Common France)

Over the past decade, Europe has experienced a democratic backsliding, accompanied by the growing influence of far‑right parties. France reflects this development, with increasing polarization, declining trust in the media, and an increasingly aggressive public discourse. Research also shows that many people—especially young people—are beginning to question democracy as a system. Civil society plays a crucial role in strengthening democratic resilience, but faces major challenges in a fragmented society: limited reach beyond already engaged audiences, and difficulties in connecting with young people and those with low trust in democratic institutions. Ahead of the French municipal elections in 2026 and the presidential election in 2027, there is a need for civil society to better understand the dynamics of polarization and to develop new forms of communication capable of reaching young people—who often get their information from social media—and groups with low institutional trust, who are more vulnerable to anti‑democratic narratives. France’s trajectory is emblematic of the broader negative democratic trends in Europe, and lessons learned there can therefore be applied in several countries across the region.

In this project, Destin Commun aims to strengthen democratic resilience and enhance civil society’s ability to counter polarization through public‑opinion insights, strategic communication support, and new alliances designed to reach young people and groups particularly exposed to disinformation and populist messaging.

What happens in the project?

The project consists of two phases, with the first phase being an exploratory phase:

• It is carried out in collaboration with two of France’s largest networks, which together represent a substantial share of the country’s civil society actors.
• The needs of organizations are assessed in order to better address and respond to polarization, and an analysis of current polarization trends is produced.
• Emerging threats and potential communication pathways related to anti‑democratic narratives are examined, and communication content and messaging are developed and tested.

The second phase includes:

• The development of a toolbox with effective communication tactics and messages, which is distributed to civil society organizations.
• In‑depth training and ongoing coaching for a selected group of actors.
• Testing and developing new forms of collaboration in which civil society organizations and influencers work together to counter polarization and the spread of hate and disinformation.
• Sharing insights and lessons learned with key civil society actors in Sweden, Germany, and Poland.
• A longer meeting held in Sweden, where actors from all four countries participate in practical workshops and joint planning sessions.

Why is the project supported?

Sweden is part of Europe and is strongly affected by developments in its surrounding region. It is therefore important to safeguard democratic values throughout the region, as well as to learn from good examples in other countries.