FUNDED PROJECTS

Interdisciplinary Dialogue on evolving identities in times of democratic Transformations

Category: ENLIGHT Thematic Network

University: University of the Basque Country, University of Bordeaux, University of Galway, University of Göttingen
Period: 2025-2027

In Europe and beyond, the question of identity has become a central flashpoint for political mobilisations along the conservative-progressive spectrum. Our societies are organised around the assumption that identities are homogeneous and stable. However, identity is increasingly seen as fluid, fragmented, and contested. The transformation of society’s understanding and performativity of identities occurs within broader democratic change that remains insufficiently attentive to the change in indentities, contributing to a growing disconnect between citizens lived experiences and the very structures of European democracies. This disconnect, strategically weaponised to advance exclusionary agendas and leading to the erosion of democratic values and rights, needs to be urgently addressed. Consisting of researchers from different disciplines and various career stages based at the Universities of the Basque Country, Bordeaux, Galway and Göttingen (four ENLIGHT partner institutions), our proposed network thus strives to strengthen the interdisciplinary dialogue on evolving identities in times of democratic transformations.

IDenti-T revolves around three key objectives: (1) to develop innovative educational materials and approaches based on mutual understandings of the relationship between socio-legal and political structures of contemporary European societies; (2) to build an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral platform for dialogue and co-creation, fostering public engagement beyond academia; and (3) to create a sustainable community of practice, with a strong emphasis on supporting students and early-career scholars and boosting long-lasting collaborative initiatives.

In doing so, the network will primarily contribute to ENLIGHT's flagship domains of Equity, but also Culture and Creativity, Climate Change, and the Digital Revolution. The network will support the development of innovative teaching materials, collaborative educational approaches, and learning environments that equip tomorrow’s practitioners to understand and engage with the complexities of identity while reimagining democracy in a way that supports, includes and embraces diverse and changing identities.

 Personal highlight:
The project aims to expand the dialogue on the above questions as much as possible therefore involvement of representatives of diverse academic disciplines, civil society actors working on these topics as well as policy makers is the most welcome. Opportunities for such an involvement will be actively created.