Communication, Defense Willingness and Democratic Resilience

The interdisciplinary research environment Communication, Defence Willingness, and Democratic Resilience (CDR) brings together researchers from the Department of Communication (IKO), the School of Economics and Management, and the Faculty of Humanities and Theology.

The research aims to develop knowledge and methodologies that enhance citizen participation and resilience in a complex communication landscape. Maintaining a robust defence in a democracy requires a comprehensive understanding of total defence, involving all parts of society. Therefore, the research focuses on gender and young adult perspectives - areas often overlooked in public debates and academic discussions on defence preparedness.

In democratic countries, defence willingness is often linked to a commitment to a free and egalitarian society. By asking how strategic communication contributes to mobilising citizens to defend the principles of liberal democracy, we also emphasise a critical understanding of communication and its impact on groups with low trust in total defence.

Read more in the article "Research initiative explores defence willingness and democratic resilience".