On February 4, 2025, the city of Strasbourg, France, became the backdrop for the official launch of the YOU-DARE project, an ambitious initiative funded by the European Commission. This collaborative effort brings together a pan-European consortium of leading research institutions and organisations, to confront the pressing challenges posed by far-right extremism through a gendered lens.
The YOU-DARE project (YOUth Debunking the gendered Arguments of far-Right Extremism) sets out to investigate how far-right youth groups construct and mobilise gender identities within their ideologies, and how these narratives threaten democratic values and social cohesion.
Susi Meret of Aalborg University, a key partner in the initiative said,
“This project aims to expose the gendered strategies of far-right movements and provide solutions to protect democracy and equality.“
Through comparative research spanning eight European countries, YOU-DARE seeks to uncover the nuanced and complex roles that gender plays in the appeal and propagation of extremist ideologies. By analysing these dynamics, the project hopes to contribute not only to academic knowledge but also to the development of practical tools and policies that can counteract divisive and anti-democratic narratives.
Empowering Youth Against Rising Extremism
The launch event in Strasbourg gathered scholars, policy-makers, and civil society representatives, fostering a transnational dialogue on safeguarding democratic principles in an era marked by rising extremism. The YOU-DARE project will run for three years, producing arange of outputs, including policy recommendations, educational materials and community-based interventions designed to empower young people to resist extremist rhetoric.
As Europe faces the challenges of political polarisation and democratic backsliding, initiatives like YOU-DARE offer a beacon of hope, emphasising that understanding and addressing the gendered dimensions of far-right extremism is crucial for building more inclusive and resilient societies. The consortium invites stakeholders across the continent to join in this critical endeavor, reinforcing the shared commitment to democracy, gender equality and human rights.