European democracy has many faces. Everyone talks about it, but no one can really define it. It is a concept understood and experienced so differently that there is no single, straightforward definition of it. Nor are the ways to protect and promote it.
But what exactly is democracy? Do you know?
There are so many blind spots, as this year's report from the European Democracy Hub shows. Our Sense Maker can already provide some insights into how European citizens experience and understand democracy through metaphors.

We live in challenging times, characterized by Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity. 😵‍💫
The recent election of Trump will contribute to those type of political environments all around us.
Politicians and citizens will need an innovative and powerful approach to navigate through and build on future resilience.

Democratic participation is essential for responsive governance, SenseMaker offers an innovative approach to connecting citizens and policymakers.
Incorporating SenseMaker into democratic processes isn’t just about gathering data - it’s about building a bridge between citizens and their leaders. In doing so, it paves the way for a more participatory, transparent, and responsive democracy.

In a democracy, everyone’s voice should matter, especially in decision-making. Epistemic injustice undermines this by excluding certain perspectives, weakening democratic values like equality and inclusivity.

Sense-making through abduction is a process that helps us interpret ambiguous or incomplete information by generating the most plausible explanations. Abductive reasoning guides us to make “best guesses” based on what we observe, even without full information. This makes abduction especially valuable in complex, real-world situations where straightforward answers are often unavailable.

A model of citizen involvement in decision-making processes illustrates how much power citizens have when interacting with public authorities or institutions. Learn more about how sense making can contribute to democracy by putting citizens higher on the ladder.