Reclaiming Democracy from the Margins: Reviving Civic Life in Hostile Landscapes

Nov 26

Across Europe—and in many parts of the world—local democracies are increasingly shaped by radicalised narratives, exclusionary politics, and decision-making environments that actively discourage public participation. In towns where far-right rhetoric becomes the dominant political language, institutions often stop recognising the complexity and diversity of their communities. Migration, poverty, and social marginalisation become instruments of political identity rather than issues to be addressed.

In these places, the democratic ecosystem shrinks. Civil society spaces disappear, community groups dissolve under pressure or lack of support, and the everyday infrastructure for public dialogue erodes. What emerges is not just a challenging context, but a hostile civic landscape.

Understanding Hostile Civic Landscapes

Hostile civic landscapes are environments where participation is discouraged—explicitly or indirectly—by institutions, social norms, or political dynamics. They are marked by disappearing civic spaces, weakened community networks, institutions that resist participatory efforts, and communities fractured along social or cultural lines.

In underserved or peripheral territories, these dynamics are intensified. Depopulation, limited services, shrinking cultural offerings, and economic stagnation reinforce isolation. When political hostility overlaps with structural disadvantage, youth civic engagement becomes even harder—and even more essential.

A Glimpse Into Monfalcone

Monfalcone, an industrial town in Northeast Italy, illustrates these realities vividly. It has a long history of migration and labour, but today faces deep political polarisation and narratives that divide long-term residents from newcomers. Public spaces for youth engagement are scarce, community initiatives struggle for support, and many young people feel disconnected from local institutions and from each other.

And yet, even here, youth-led initiatives demonstrate that renewal is possible. Small openings—micro-events, informal gatherings, creative acts of community—show how new civic energy can emerge even in the most difficult environments.

Why Democracy Reactivation Looks Different Here

In stable cities with strong civic infrastructures, participation builds on existing networks—NGOs, cultural institutions, participatory mechanisms, shared civic language. Little to none of this exists in hostile civic landscapes. Often, the starting point is little to zero trust, little to zero institutional support, and little to zero prior experience of inclusive participation.

This changes everything. Engagement must be cultivated slowly. Trust becomes the cornerstone. Formal tools like assemblies or consultations are rarely appropriate at the outset. The work takes place in micro-spaces, at the margins, and far from institutional halls. Strategies must adapt to the local ecology and rebuild capacity layer by layer.

Youth-Powered Pathways for Reawakening Civic Life

Reactivating democracy in hostile civic landscapes requires a different kind of approach, one grounded in relationships, local knowledge, and small but consistent actions.

These pathways form a simple checklist that can guide early work:

Strengthen micro-relationships: Start with the trusted individuals already doing the work—informal organisers, teachers, community leaders, volunteers. A few motivated young people with strong ties can create greater impact than a large, unconnected group.

Create a simple, accessible offer: Engagement grows when the barrier to entry is low. Small workshops, informal dialogues, creative gatherings, and open spaces for listening can spark participation where civic culture is thin.

Do community-anchored research: Understand the place deeply. Listening circles, street-level conversations, participatory mapping, and youth-led surveys help young people see themselves as active narrators of their civic landscape.

Build trust before participation: No trust means no participation. Young people must feel safe, acknowledged, and respected before they engage in collective work. Trust-building is slow and relational, but it lays the groundwork for everything that follows.

Identify key focal points for support: Even in hostile areas, there are always strategic openings—teachers, youth centres, libraries, cultural groups, faith communities, or local artists. These are micro-infrastructures that offer legitimacy, space, and early allies.