The Spring School will take place from 30 March to 2 April 2026, with sessions hosted at the European University Institute (Florence) and the Scuola Normale Superiore's Palazzone di Cortona (Cortona, Arezzo).
It offers an intensive programme of lectures, methodological workshops, and research feedback sessions focused on the study of democratic backsliding, political mobilisation, far-right and anti-gender activism, and the broader dynamics shaping contemporary democratic erosion.

The School is open to 20 doctoral researchers, selected through an international competitive process.
Application deadline: 7 January 2026, 17:00 CEST. Accepted candidates will be notified no later than 15 January 2026.

Full details, including thematic areas, programme structure, and application instructions, can be found in the attached call/announcement.

We would be grateful if you could circulate this information within your departments and networks.

For any questions, please contact:

Manuela Caiani – manuela.caiani@sns.it

Lorenzo Cicchi – lorenzo.cicchi@eui.eu