The real danger for democracies today is not based on autocracies becoming stronger, but from their reactive posture, slow consensus-building, and failure to communicate clearly and timely with their citizens. Autocracies exploit these weaknesses by shaping narratives and spreading their influence, creating an appearance of greater strength and unity. Yet the core issue is not that autocratic regimes are inherently more powerful or superior, but that democracies often underestimate their adversaries’ resolve, misinterpret their intentions, and fail to fully leverage their own strengths to counter them effectively. This article examines the tools available, necessary reforms, policy shifts, and mindset changes Europe must adopt to confront these challenges.
To overcome the current crisis, democracies must learn from autocracies’ effective powers of communication by clearly linking core democratic values
