Vladislava Gubalova works at GLOBSEC, one of our partners in the ScaleDem project, funded by Horizon Europe, the European research and innovation programme. In this context, she highlights the connection between ScaleDem and GLOBSEC’s efforts to strengthen democracy in Central and Eastern Europe by combining research, dialogue, and strategic action in response to political and informational challenges.
Missions Publiques. GLOBSEC is our only big think tank partner, and the largest in Central and Eastern Europe: can you tell us how the topics of Democracy & Resilience” are integrated in the day to day work, and how you will contribute to ScaleDem?
Vladislava Gubalova. GLOBSEC just celebrated its 20th anniversary. It has grown from a small group of ambitious Slovak students firmly believing in European and transatlantic future for Slovakia and Central Europe into a recognizable pan-European think tank boasting about 100 team members across Europe and the U.S. The complex and dynamic geopolitical challenges, coupled with economic and technological shifts in the international environment, carry potentially grave consequences for democracy if not addressed adequately. Building resilience, therefore not only protecting democracy but strengthening it, is one of the pillars in the organization’s work. This is why we produce evidence-based research that assists policymaking, place impactful stakeholders together to derive to practical solutions and engage with citizens (with special focus on young people and women) and the broader civil society. We will contribute towards more impactful dissemination of the project outputs, especially with focus on the final phase with engagement of policymakers from various governmental levels, other end users and shapers. Further, we will use our expertise, modes of operation and network to foster strategic partnerships in pursuing the project’s goals.
Missions Publiques. Your yearly GLOBSEC Trends survey reveals citizens’ perceptions of democracy in the CEE region year after year. Which insights have been most striking to you recently?
Vladislava Gubalova. In another milestone, we are also celebrating the 10th edition of the GLOBSEC Trends. While the credit for the work goes to my colleagues, this publication has become a go-to source in feeling the pulse of citizens’ perceptions in CEE. Each year it introduces the attitudes towards the most current challenges, while keeping questions about democracy constant for capturing changes in time. In this year’s survey 84% of respondents in CEE believe that democracy as ‘a system based on equality, human rights and freedoms, rule of law is good for their country.’ The region has carried high support for democracy, in general, although we observe at times different frames on what constitutes democracy. Still, it seems that citizens from the CEE understand the importance of this moment (placed in times of dynamic changes, security challenges and partly the potential for economic uncertainty). At the same time it is imperative to also point out that informed minds resist conspiracies in the region. The relation between media literacy, consumption of mainstream media and belief in conspiracies is clearly displayed. For example, in Romania 57% express belief in conspiracies, while the country scores 32 out of 100 in media literacy index and 10% use mainstream media outlets. To the opposite in Estonia 36% belief in conspiracies, the country scores 71 out of 100 on media literacy and 46% of its citizens use mainstream media. In short, even if external and internal pressures persist democracy can withstand in the region, but it needs consistent support and improvements through context-sensitive scaling.
"In such an environment it would be essential to combine scaling approaches, as scaling high democratic innovations might be either all together refused or potentially processes coopted as tools for legitimizing illiberal practices.
Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Global Europe
Missions Publiques. ScaleDem’s scaling framework distinguishes four pathways to scaling: out, deep, in, and high. Which of those dimensions best describes GLOBSEC’s own approach to scaling democratic resilience in CEE?
Vladislava Gubalova. GLOBSEC’s strengths lay mainly in scaling in and scaling high. Through providing space for consultations and meaningful exchange of ideas, experiences and expertise among different groups of stakeholders we are confident in advancing workable recommendations and solutions, while gaining trust and credibility among implementers and decision-makers. With that said, we also have a good record of scaling out through years of capacity-building, upskilling and educating citizens and public administrators.
Missions Publiques. During our kickoff meeting in Brussels, you notably pointed out the threat of political cooptation by illiberal governments that come with scaling “high”. Do you mind elaborating on that?
Vladislava Gubalova. Certainly, we see a more difficult environment in some Central European countries and not only, where the civic spaces are shrinking, polarization is exploited, and the civic society is under immense pressure. In such an environment it would be essential to combine scaling approaches, as scaling high democratic innovations might be either all together refused or potentially processes coopted as tools for legitimizing illiberal practices. Still, even under these circumstances scaling high should not be abandoned—focus on European level, local or regional levels—looking for an opportunity.
Missions Publiques. Our project emphasises the leap from research to real-world testing. And well, you are our policy experts within our consortium! So, one last question: what would be your best tip to successfully reaching out policymakers and convince them to buy-in on scaling democratic innovations?
Vladislava Gubalova. For policymakers to buy-in and be the facilitators of scaling democratic innovations, we should provide them with clear and not-complex, implementable in their political cycle and mostly usable innovations. While we are all firm believers in the benefits of democratic innovations to build societal resilience and democratic strength, we need to be very practical, solution-driven and message-consistent.
