The polarisation of society has now become a buzzword that is hardly missing from any political analysis. Trump, the Brexit, migration and the flight movement from the South to Europe, which has almost been pushed into the background again, also globalisation and climate change, and the Corona pandemic, which has been going on for a year now … In all these topic areas, a very fundamental polarisation of positionings is indeed emerging, which overshadows intermediate tones.

The focus of the issue on “Polarisation, Radicalisation and Discrimination in Europe” focuses in particular on the situation in Central and Eastern Europe in the practice of prevention and intervention in the field of democracy education, group-focused enmity and right-wing extremism. Contributors to this issue include those who have been working on-the-ground in the countries, as members of civil society organisations with a sharp and trained eye; those who work in municipalities, schools and extracurricular education as “fighters on the front line” (first-line practitioners, FLPs for short, e.g. teachers, social workers, NGOs, police) on a daily basis in regular structures, in training courses, and workshops as well as in counselling; and have in-depth insights and experience of the challenges, barriers and attempts at solutions.

The publication can be read and downloaded here

This special issue has been produced within the Champions Project.

PATRIR, the Peace Action, Training and Research Institute of Romania, stands in solidarity with and supports local peacebuilders active in Afghanistan, at this difficult time. PATRIR staff has actively participated in work on democratization, inclusion and pluralism in Afghanistan and knows, first hand, the lengths that these actors had to go to achieve dialogue, mediation, cover basic education and health needs, sometimes against all odds and operating outside the protection of the international community. As an organization working on mediation and postconflict recovery, we know their work is irreplaceable.
We stand with the international community when urging the new regime to respect basic human and civic rights and to support the advancements of women in girls in science, education, administration and the private sector. We are aware that most local NGO workers, peacebuilders, mediators would like to continue their work. But for those opting to leave the country, we urge the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Romanian Government to expedite the visa process and any humanitarian assistance needed. The Romanian state, as the international community, has the “responsibility to protect” those whose lives are threatened by their own governments. Learn more information here.