How Emotions Shape Democracy: Closing Conference by PROTEMO, PLEDGE, & MORES | Brussels 1-2 December 2026
Why do pro-democratic messages find little echo among increasingly polarised European societies? Three Horizon Europe research and innovation projects—PROTEMO, PLEDGE, and MORES—have spent the past years exploring different pieces of the same puzzle: the role emotions play in shaping politics and what they cost democratic life when political decision-makers leave them unaddressed. On 1 and 2 December 2026, the projects are holding their Joint Closing Conference in Brussels for scholars, civil society practitioners, and policy decision-makers. The scientific findings on offer reveal how emotions feed into some of the most pressing political challenges that Europe faces today:
·What drives the widening gap between political tribes—the affective polarisation eroding trust across democracies—and how might emotions help bridge it?
·How emotional appeals shape policy debates and citizens’ attitudes, and how neglecting emotional needs can push vulnerable groups further away from politics?
·How and when do personal grievances become a democratic threat, and how can they be channelled into proactive civic engagement instead?
The conference
The event is organised on two consecutive days. Day one is dedicated to scientific discoveries and discussions. Session panels, led and moderated by project experts, will cover important levels at which emotions operate: citizen behaviour and political attitudes, media and political communication, and the policy process itself. Each session pairs short presentations from across the projects with open discussions.
The afternoon opens into breakout rooms on methodology, conceptual and theoretical questions, and migration and crises as case studies.
Day two focuses on policy and civil society groups. Sessions will cover the evidence, risks, and opportunities for emotions in policy decision-making, and the hands-on application of science-derived tools for better policy and communication, followed by breakout rooms for civil society and policy practitioners. While the themes and foci change, registered attendees are welcome to join either day of the event and network.
Together, MORES, PLEDGE, and PROTEMO represent nearly €10 million of Horizon Europe investment in research untangling how emotions affect politics and democratic life. The closing conference is where researchers present the evidence and implications of their scientific research to, and debate them with, the wider research and policy communities.
Programme
The programme, a draft subject to change, is available for download here.
Date: 1–2 December 2026
Location: Brussels
We look forward hope to seeing you in December.
PROTEMO, PLEDGE, and MORES