April 2025 – As we have seen across Europe over the past few years, and now quite dramatically in the United States, polarisation, extremism and disinformation are weighing increasingly heavily on our democratic processes and the rule of law. This is a trend that worries Efus’ member local and regional authorities because they see the consequences on social cohesion and public order on the ground, at the local level.
The link between polarisation and urban security
Is there a link between urban security, i.e., the safety of citizens at the local level, and increased polarisation, which is an international trend? One might think not and argue that these are two distinct issues. But it’s not what our member cities are telling us. Indeed, this was one of the key topics discussed last year at our Security, Democracy and Cities conference (Brussels, March 2024), which gathered some 700 participants from 125 cities and regions from all over Europe.
The importance of strengthening social cohesion
Our Security, Democracy and Cities manifesto, which was recently updated following the Brussels conference, states that “across Europe, we are witnessing several serious challenges facing European local and regional authorities, the first being polarisation in all its manifestations, but also widening inequalities and tensions that pose a major risk for our societies […].Our experience shows without a doubt that the more socially integrated and invested people are in their local community, the safer they feel. It is thus important for us to work together to strengthen social cohesion, because the more inclusive a city is, the safer it is.”
The role of local authorities
The manifesto includes a series of recommendations for local and regional authorities regarding social cohesion and polarisation, including the following:
- Local and regional authorities, through their proximity to citizens, their understanding of local issues and their power to shape public policies for the prevention of crime and for social cohesion, are strategically well positioned to implement actions and mobilise all relevant local stakeholders.
- The prevention of radicalisation should be integrated into a global and local security policy because some risk factors are similar to those that can lead to crime.
- Local authorities can play an important role in mitigating polarisation and radicalisation by identifying warning signs and fostering robust collaboration with civil society, religious and minority communities, and other governmental levels.
- Local authorities can develop and implement community engagement programmes that foster dialogue, build trust, and promote social cohesion within diverse communities.
With the advent of artificial intelligence, there is a risk that disinformation becomes even more widespread and difficult to contain, especially if we are not taught how to distinguish between true and false information.
Locally assessing tensions and polarisation
Led by Efus between January 2019 and July 2021, the EU-funded BRIDGE project aimed to support local and regional authorities in assessing tensions and polarisation in their locality, to facilitate the development of activities to prevent and mitigate its causes and effects, and to foster social cohesion, inclusion and citizen participation.
The project’s partner local and regional authorities developed a methodology to carry out local audits on the level and forms of polarisation in their territory, following which they each designed and implemented a targeted pilot project.
What local authorities can do
Based on this work, they drew up with the following recommendations for other local and regional authorities in Europe (which we have summarised for this article):
- Addressing polarisation is challenging and requires the involvement of a wide range of municipal actors and local stakeholders.
- It requires the political support, engagement and active communication of local elected officials.
- Local and regional authorities should strive to facilitate dialogue between diverse groups of population.
- They should map out existing capacities and resources to help them to prevent polarisation, such as relevant civil society organisations operating locally.
Locally countering disinformation
The spread of polarisation is closely linked to the ever increasing impact of social media, which tend to isolate users in their own information bubble fed by algorithms that promote contents which generate feelings of anger and strong reactions. With the advent of artificial intelligence, there is a risk that disinformation becomes even more widespread and difficult to contain, especially if we are not taught how to distinguish between true and false information.
Clearing the information jungle
In its recommendations, Efus’ 2025 manifesto notes that countering fake news and dangerous social media contents can only be done through close cooperation between all levels of governance: local, national and international. It adds that public authorities, whatever the level of governance, must behave and communicate ever more transparently in order to be perceived as reliable and truthful in the face of a growing ‘communication jungle’.
Furthermore, educating the public, notably but not exclusively young people, in using
social media and distinguishing between fake and reliable news are crucial. Public authorities, in particular at the local level, can play a leading role in this respect by supporting schools and relevant civil society organisations.
Local projects and initiatives
For local authorities, containing disinformation and preventing polarisation might seem an insurmountable challenge. However, there are numerous local projects and initiatives that can inspire them, as well as resources at EU level besides those made available by national governments.
We’ve listed below some resources resulting from the work carried out by Efus in the past few years. We’ll keep working on this all-important issue and keep you updated.
Resources
> Efus’ 2025 Security, Democracy and Cities manifesto
> The manifesto’s recommendations on communication and disinformation
> The manifesto’s recommendations on polarisation and radicalisation
Reports from the 2024 Security, Democracy and Cities conference:
> Renewing our democratic practices, linking security, democracy and cities
> Communication: transparency, fake news and social media
> Polarisation and prevention of radicalisation leading to violent extremism
> How to understand and prevent hate, extremism, and disinformation online
The BRIDGE European project has a wealth of available resources, including the following publication: Understanding and addressing polarisation at the local level.
> Illustration at the top ©iStock – alashi
