Dr Eileen Culloty of the DCU Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society (FUJO) chaired a panel discussion for the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) examining growing concerns about the erosion of democratic norms across Europe.
The panel formed part of ICCL’s conference, “People, Power and Policy: Re-evaluating the Role of Civil Society in Irish Democracy,” which TOOK place on Thursday, 27 November 2025 in Dublin.
In opening and guiding the discussion, Dr Culloty highlighted the importance of what political theorist Michael Ignatieff describes as “countervailing institutions,” organisations and structures that limit state power and protect minority rights. She noted that increasing pressure on civil society organisations across Europe raises serious concerns for democratic health.
The panel explored multiple dimensions of this trend, including the shrinking space for protest and civic participation, direct and indirect attacks on civil society organisations and the growing and largely unchecked power of major technology platforms.
Among the contributions, Akiko Hart of Liberty warned of the gradual nature of democratic decline, emphasising that authoritarianism often advances slowly at first before accelerating rapidly once established.
Reflecting on the discussion, Dr Culloty described the issue as urgent, underlining the need for sustained attention to how democratic norms are protected and eroded in contemporary societies.
The ICCL conference brought together civil society leaders, researchers and policymakers to examine how power operates in Irish democracy and to explore the future role of civil society in safeguarding democratic values.