Proactive Protection – Inoculating against Extremist Conspiracy Narratives towards NGOs

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Key project results & products (2024)

 

The aim of the project was to support NGOs in the diversity sector to respond more effectively to attacks resulting from conspiracy thinking & narratives that limit their ability to fulfil their democracy promotion role and undermine trust in the sector and more broadly, in democracy. The outcomes were as follows:

  • Developed and tested a narrative strategy that immunises movable middle audiences in Germany from conspiracy thinking on NGOs
  • Advanced understanding of the the target segments and their propensity to hold and move away from conspiracy thinking about NGOs
  • Put together and shared a targeted and accessible messaging guide to directly support activists and experts interested in rebuilding trust in the NGO sector and in democracy institutions.
  • Shared the lessons and insights with a wide range of stakeholders 

 

Key products

  1. In-depth profiles of the target segments:
Original Overview & Plans (2023)

 

The aim of the project is to support NGOs in the diversity sector to respond more effectively to attacks resulting from conspiracy thinking & narratives that limit their ability to fulfil their democracy promotion role and undermine trust in the sector and more broadly, in democracy.

 

Challenges & responses

In these challenging times, conspiracy thinking & narratives have been steadily gaining popularity. As populism and authoritarian tendencies rise in Europe, trust in democracy and civil society is falling, and conspiracy narratives are spread widely to vilify the civil society sector. A prevalent conspiracy theory of the far right - The Great Replacement theory – is having a damning and chilling effect on CSOs who are accused of being ‘traitors’ and ‘enemies of the state’ for supporting migrants and refugees and who are allegedly conspiring with globalists to drive the replacement. CSOs are struggling to respond effectively to such attacks, and are usually on the back foot in defensive mode. Recent studies by DeZIM and Maecenata Stiftung1 reinforce the damaging impact of these attacks on CSOs and serve as a strong call to action.

The PS project takes a proactive perspective by focusing on trying to prevent the mainstreaming of damaging narratives about CSOs. More specifically, applying ICPA’s empirically-tested and value-based narrative change approach, we are experimenting to see if narrative change can be a useful proactive instrument to help immunise the movable middle in Germany from taking on and widely spreading the set of harmful narratives about CSOs which feed the Great Replacement theory.

Drawing on the segmentation of the population from on an attitudes survey by More in Common2 , we focus on two segments of the population which we categorise as the ‘hard end’ of the middle, closest to the extreme who are susceptible to conspiracy thinking, i.e. The Detached (16%) and The Disillusioned (14%). Through a narrative development and testing process, we will assess which narrative strategy has the most resonance and impact in this preventative effort.

For this work, we draw on six years experience working on civic space narratives in Kazakhstan, as we’re seeing the narrative tactics of authoritarian contexts being replicated in Europe following quite a predictable authoritarian playbook. The following table outlines the three project components and main activities of the Proaktiver Schutz project:

1. Develop an evidence base 2. Develop & test new narratives 3. Dissemination & transfer of learnings
Develop a frames map of conspiracy narratives attacking CSOs (literature & stakeholder consultations) Develop narrative strategy options with CSO partners in the Immunising Narratives Lab Develop an “Immunising Narrative Strategy Guide” to document learnings (what worked & didn’t work)
Expand profiles of “Detached” & “Disillusioned” segments through opinion survey on CSO attitudes Test narrative strategy options in focus groups & verify through opinion survey Conduct workshops for CSO networks to share results & the Guide as a resource
Understand CSO attitudes & conspiracy thinking of two segments in focus groups Debrief & analyse results together with CSO partners Generate ideas with CSO partners for implementing the tested immunising narrative strategy

 

Contact

International Centre for Policy Advocacy (ICPA) gGmbH is a Berlin-based NGO committed to developing and supporting advocacy initiatives and constructive dialogue to promote and protect democratic principles and open society values. The project "Proactive Protection" is implemented in the framework of the Strategic Communications Incubator programme.

Contact: Lisa Quinn, Project Lead Proactive Protection & ICPA Director - lisa@icpolicyadvocacy.org

 

Project partners

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This publication does not express the opinions of BMFSFJ or BAFzA. The authors are solely responsible for the content of the publication.