The autocratic appeal: nature, drivers and strategies

The EU Funding Opportunity HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-07, titled "The autocratic appeal: nature, drivers and strategies," is part of the Horizon Europe Programme focusing on Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) under the Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society framework for 2025. This grant aims to address the increasing threat of autocratic governance and its implications for democracy worldwide.

Eligible applicants include universities, research institutions, public authorities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders engaged in relevant multidisciplinary approaches. The funding type is a lump sum grant, with expected contributions ranging between €3 million and €3.5 million, totaling a budget of €10.5 million for this specific topic and an indicative number of three grants available. The application process follows a single-stage submission model, with the opening date set for May 15, 2025, and a deadline on September 16, 2025.

The project outcomes aim to equip policymakers, the public, and journalists with updated scientific knowledge regarding autocratic tendencies, including digital authoritarianism, and tools for early warning and resistance strategies. It seeks to explore the sociopolitical dynamics of contemporary democracies under threat, emphasizing historical context and examining the roles of various actors, such as media and civil society, in combating authoritarianism.

The proposal should consider creating methods to protect democracies from autocratic incursions, focusing on effective strategies for various stakeholders without resorting to anti-democratic measures. Research topics should include the connections between gender equality, minority issues, and autocratic governance, as well as the impact of digital authoritarian practices. Moreover, the call encourages international collaboration and engagement with prior EU-funded projects.

Applicants must adhere to specified admissibility and eligibility criteria, including page limits and submission processes detailed in Horizon Europe Work Programme documentation. The success rate and co-funding requirements for this call remain unspecified, but collaboration with various partners is advocated to enhance the effectiveness of research and innovation initiatives.

Overall, this funding opportunity represents a significant investment in understanding and resisting autocratic influences through supportive research, aiming to strengthen democratic resilience on both a European and global scale. The single-stage application process emphasizes accessibility and encourages wide participation from eligible entities.

The EU Funding Opportunity is HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-07, titled "The autocratic appeal: nature, drivers and strategies." This is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) funded through the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically the Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society call in 2025 (HORIZON-CL2-2025-01). The grant agreement will be a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS].

The call is currently open for submission with a single-stage deadline model. The opening date was May 15, 2025, and the deadline for submission is September 16, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of the projects funded under this topic are:

1.  Policymakers, public authorities, and citizens are equipped with updated and exploitable scientific knowledge and understanding of increasing autocratic tendencies, including digital authoritarianism and erosion of human rights. This includes knowledge from SSH disciplines and fields, as well as understanding the factors contributing to the rise of these tendencies, such as disinformation, disparagement of the rule of law, excessive use of police force, and demonization of political opposition.

2.  Public authorities, journalists, and the public are provided with methods and tools for:

 *  Early warning and characterization of autocratic tendencies, their drivers, and strategies.

 *  Identifying tactics for resisting and combating these tendencies.

3.  Relevant actors (democratic governments, media, civil society organizations) are enabled to take more informed decisions when engaging with autocracies.

The scope of the projects should address the following:

Democracies are under attack globally, with a rising number of autocracies. Authoritarianism is gaining appeal, even within liberal democracies where populist leaders use authoritarian tactics. The growing acceptance of autocratic approaches in established democracies is under-researched. Scientific knowledge is needed to develop tools to counteract these tendencies. Analysis should consider social, psychological, philosophical, and historical dimensions. Historical experiences with autocratic regimes can provide valuable insights.

Further investigation is required into resistance against autocratisation. Research should examine the actors resisting autocratisation and their strategies, investigating the modalities, actors, and patterns of resistance. This should generate updated and exploitable scientific knowledge. The role of media literacy, culture, creativity, and arts in stemming autocratic tendencies should be explored. The role of LGBTIQ people, religious, migrant, or ethnic minorities in resisting autocracies should also be investigated. Resistance to heteronormative and whitewashing activities of autocracies in culture, arts, entertainment, tourism, and sports should be considered.

The adoption of gender-equality reforms by some autocracies to boost their international image is a notable strategy. Proposals should examine the causes and consequences of autocracies’ pursuit of gender equality, as increased autocracy and anti-democratic tendencies often coincide with setbacks in gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights. This will shed light on the overall patterns and drivers of autocracies in the twenty-first century.

Resistance against autocratisation has moved into the digital realm to counteract "digital authoritarianism." Authoritarian power is built and sustained through online censorship, internet shutdowns, digital surveillance, and disinformation. Proposals should aim to disentangle the actor configurations engaged in digital authoritarian practices and investigate how these practices fit within the larger authoritarian playbook. The challenges brought by resistance to digital authoritarianism, such as protests and investigative research, should also be examined.

Proposals should investigate how to effectively protect democracies from autocratic tendencies and narratives. The means and strategies for protection available to different stakeholders (public authorities, civil society organisations, media, citizens) should be explored. How autocratic reforms can be reversed and overcome without resorting to anti-democratic means or inducing increased polarisation should be addressed.

Proposals could also look into the interrelations between science scepticism, science-denial, distrust in democracies, and the autocratic appeal. A multidisciplinary, actor-based approach is recommended, integrating fields such as political science, law, sociology, philosophy, psychology, media and digital studies, gender studies, and history. Proposals should engage citizens and civil society organisations to ensure calibration and uptake.

International cooperation is encouraged, as the rise of autocracies and populisms in Europe is not an isolated phenomenon.

Collaboration with relevant projects selected under previous EU-funded calls is encouraged. Clustering and cooperation with other selected projects under this topic and other relevant projects are strongly encouraged.

The admissibility conditions include:

1.  Proposal page limit and layout as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and in Part B of the Application Form. The page limit for Part B of the Research and Innovation (RIA) application using lump sum is 50 pages. A detailed budget table must be submitted.

2.  Eligible countries as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions may exist for non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

3.  Other eligible conditions as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

4.  Financial and operational capacity and exclusion as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5.  Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds as described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

6.  Submission and evaluation processes as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

7.  Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021.

The application form templates and evaluation form templates are available in the Submission System. Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Lump Sum MGA, call-specific instructions, detailed budget table, and guidance on lump sums. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2025, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and various guidance and legal documents.

The budget for this topic (HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-07) in 2025 is EUR 10,500,000. The contributions are expected to be between EUR 3,000,000 and EUR 3,500,000, and the indicative number of grants is 3.

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The Electronic Submission Service can be accessed via the submission button.

This funding opportunity aims to address the growing threat of autocratisation worldwide by funding research and innovation actions that can provide policymakers, public authorities, and citizens with the knowledge and tools necessary to understand, resist, and combat autocratic tendencies. The focus is on understanding the nature, drivers, and strategies of autocracy, as well as identifying effective tactics for protecting and promoting democracy. The call encourages multidisciplinary approaches, international cooperation, and engagement with relevant stakeholders to ensure the calibration and uptake of research findings. The funding will be distributed as lump sum grants, and the application process involves a single-stage submission with a deadline of September 16, 2025.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the context of Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), eligible applicants can include universities, research institutes, public authorities, civil society organizations, media outlets, and other relevant stakeholders. The call encourages a multidisciplinary approach and engagement of citizens and civil society organizations, suggesting a broad range of eligible entities.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, for both Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) under the Horizon Europe Programme.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity encourages international cooperation and collaboration with relevant projects, suggesting that a consortium of multiple applicants is preferred, although not explicitly stated as a requirement. Partner search tools are provided, indicating a collaborative approach is favored.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility appears to be focused on EU member states and associated countries, as indicated by the Horizon Europe Programme. However, the call also mentions that a number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: culture, creativity, inclusive society, democracy, governance, digital studies, media, political science, law, sociology, philosophy, psychology, gender studies, and history. It focuses on understanding and counteracting autocratic tendencies, digital authoritarianism, and the erosion of human rights.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions a "democratic European country" that is subject to invasion by an authoritarian regime, but does not explicitly name the country. It also refers to "EU member states and associated countries" and "non-EU/non-Associated Countries".

Project Stage: The project stage is geared towards research, development, and innovation, as it involves Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). The projects should generate updated and exploitable scientific knowledge and tools.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic and type of action (RIA or CSA). The indicative contributions are as follows:
HORIZON-CSA: typically between €2,000,000 to €3,500,000, with some exceptions around €2,000,000.
HORIZON-RIA: typically between €3,000,000 to €4,000,000, with some exceptions ranging from €3,000,000 to €5,000,000 or around €3,400,000.
HORIZON-IA: €2,500,000 to €4,000,000

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly mentioned.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, under the Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society pillar, seeks to fund research and innovation projects that address the rise of autocracy and its impact on democracies worldwide. The call encourages multidisciplinary approaches, international cooperation, and the engagement of various stakeholders, including policymakers, public authorities, citizens, and civil society organizations. Projects should aim to provide updated scientific knowledge, methods, and tools to understand, resist, and combat autocratic tendencies, digital authoritarianism, and the erosion of human rights. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and the application process involves a single stage. The call is structured around several specific topics, each with its own budget and indicative number of grants, spanning Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA).