On September 19-20, 35 social scientists from 12 European countries came together at Minerva Han to discuss their joint research on polarization in Europe’s public spheres and to develop strategies against polarization together with the media and civil society organizations. The meeting was hosted by Sabancı University and organized by FASS faculty member Ateş Altınordu.
The meeting attracted attention as the last major event of the COST (the European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action in 2024, entitled “Redressing Radical Polarization: Strengthening European Civil Spheres facing Illiberal Digital Media.”
Ateş Altınordu, who heads the action’s empirical studies-focused working group, said the following at the meeting: “Radical polarization poses a significant threat to liberal democracy, good governance, and peaceful coexistence in today’s Europe. Our aim is to better understand why and how societies become polarized through the collaborative work of social scientists from various disciplines with expertise in different regions of Europe. This work will not only help increase our knowledge on the subject, but will also provide practical contributions to anti-polarization initiatives carried out by various media and civil society organizations in Europe.”
This meeting, which highlights Sabancı University's contributions to international research and cooperation, serves as a platform where important steps are taken to redress radical polarization across Europe.