The resilience of liberal democracy in Finland (RESLIDE) project evaluates the resilience of liberal democracy in Finland and propose solutions to safeguard it. It will study commitment to democratic norms among citizens, politicians, and public administrators, explore democratic discourses online and in formal political arenas, and analyze inequalities in political representation and participation. The project is funded by the Strategic Research Council of the Academy of Finland.
According to research findings, there have been signals of democratic backsliding within the past decade, and liberal democracy is at risk. The RESLIDE project aims to develop solutions that will function as an antidote to the erosion of democratic values. In order to find these solutions, the research consortium will collaborate with broad range of national stakeholders in different sectors.
The research consortium is led by Professor Åsa von Schoultz from the University of Helsinki. Key work packages are led by Inga Saikkonen from Åbo Akademi University, Janne Tukiainen from University of Turku, Kimmo Elo from University of Eastern Finland, and Juha Jokela from FIIA. The first three-year period of the project begins on 1 December 2024 and ends on 30 November 2027.
FIIA’s Working Package aims to produce new knowledge on the connections of democratic systems on global, European and Finnish, and to examine the ways those connections can be used to influence political processes in Western democracies. In addition, FIIA oversees the communications of the project.
Juha Jokela, Postdoctoral Fellow Sanna Salo, Leading Researcher Sinikukka Saari and Senior Research Fellow Ville Sinkkonen form the project team of FIIA.