IDenti-T – Interdisciplinary Dialogue on evolving identities in times of democratic Transformations (Enlight Thematic Network, 2025-2027)
- Project period: 11/25 – 10/27
- Funding:ENLIGHT (Erasmus+)
- Consortium: University of Galway (lead); Université de Bordeaux; Georg-August-Universität Göttingen; UPV/EHU (Universit< of the Basque Country)
- PI in Göttingen: Prof. Dr. Andrea D. Bührmann
- Project contact in Göttingen: Elena Futter-Buck
- Further members of the Göttingen project consortium: Dr. Lars Klein, Prof. Dr. Kerstin Rabenstein, Prof. Dr. Anne Schacht, Dr. Friz M. Trzeciak
About the project
In Europe and beyond, the question of identity has become a central flashpoint for political mobilisations along the conservative-progressive spectrum. Our societies are organised around the assumption that identities are homogeneous and stable. However, identity is increasingly seen as fluid, fragmented, and contested. The transformation of society’s understanding and performativity of identities occurs within broader democratic change, contributing to a growing disconnect between citizens lived experiences and the very structures of European democracies. This disconnect, strategically weaponised to advance exclusionary agendas and leading to the erosion of democratic values and rights, needs to be urgently addressed.Consisting of researchers from different disciplines and various career stages based at the Universities of the Basque Country, Bordeaux, Galway and Göttingen (four ENLIGHT partner institutions), our proposed network thus strives to strengthen Interdisciplinary Dialogue on evolving identities in times of democratic Transformations, forming IDenti-T.
IDenti-T revolves around three key objectives: (1) to develop innovative educational materials and approaches based on mutual understandings of the relationship between socio-legal and political structures of contemporary European societies; (2) to build an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral platform for dialogue and co-creation, fostering public engagement beyond academia; and (3) to create a sustainable community of practice, with a strong emphasis on supporting students and early-career scholars and boosting long-lasting collaborative initiatives.
In doing so, the network will primarily contribute to ENLIGHT's flagship domains of Equity, but also Culture and Creativity, Climate Change, and the Digital Revolution. The network will support the development of innovative teaching materials, collaborative educational approaches, and learning environments that equip tomorrow’s practitioners to understand and engage with the complexities of identity, thereby reimagining democracy in a way that supports, includes and embraces diverse identities.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.