OTT is co-implementing this initiative with the European Policy Centre (EPC), with support from the Network of European Foundations, to strengthen the capacity of pro-democracy think tanks across Europe to respond to the growing influence of radical-right and illiberal knowledge actors. Democracy across Europe is under sustained pressure from rising polarisation, disinformation, and well-funded illiberal organisations, which are actively reshaping policy environments and challenging democratic norms. This programme responds to the gap between the extensive analysis of these threats and the lack of coordinated operational responses among democratic institutions. Working across three mutually reinforcing strands: Deliberation for Action, Learning for Action, and Experimentation and Standardisation, OTT will co-organise strategic forums and CEO meetings, contribute to the development of a shared resource centre and publications, and implement its own activities, including podcasts. The programme will map illiberal influence networks, develop counter-narrative strategies, test practical response approaches through structured experimentation modules, and produce a practical “How to Deal” manual for pro-democracy think tanks, funders, and adjacent civil society organisations across Europe.
Duration:
May 2026 to December 2026
Budget:
EUR 22,500