Communication & Democratic Resilience

Strengthening public engagement and resilience

In democratic countries, willingness to defend is often linked to a commitment to a free and equal society. Current research examines how strategic communication can mobilise citizens to defend the principles of liberal democracy. It also highlights the need for a critical understanding of how communication affects groups with low trust in total defence.

The Communication, Defence Willingness and Democratic Resilience (CDR) group brings together researchers from across Lund University, including the Department of Communication, the School of Economics and Management, and the Faculties of Humanities and Theology.

The research aims to develop knowledge and methods that strengthen public engagement and resilience in a complex communication landscape. Maintaining a robust defence in a democracy requires a broad understanding of total defence, with involvement across society.

For this reason, the research focuses on gender perspectives and young adults—areas often overlooked in public debate and academic discussion on defence preparedness.