In a room filled with voices from across Europe, each carrying their own stories and perspectives, we gathered in Comarruga with a shared purpose: to understand authoritarian discourses and to explore how, as youth workers, we could respond to them. What made this encounter truly special was not only the diversity of our backgrounds, but also the diversity of thought. Each participant brought a fragment of reality from their own country, and together we built a mosaic of shared understanding.
From the very first day, the training challenged us to step beyond theory. One of our first activities took us into the streets of Comarruga. We were asked to approach locals and ask them what authoritarian discourse meant to them, or if they had ever encountered it. The answers surprised us. Some people were unaware that such tendencies existed in modern Europe; others expressed fear and concern. A few shared powerful stories of their own experiences under authoritarian regimes, and how living in Spain made them feel safer and freer. It was a simple yet eye-opening exercise, a reminder that awareness is the first step toward resistance.
Back in the training room, we began to share our national realities. Divided into groups, we discussed how authoritarian rhetoric appears in our countries, through the media, politics, or even social interactions. Despite our diverse backgrounds, we found recurring patterns: manipulation through fear, polarization between “us and them,” and the gradual erosion of trust in democratic institutions. These reflections painted a collective picture of a Europe where democracy, though still alive, is increasingly challenged.
As youth workers, this realization hit deeply. We understood that our role is not only to educate but also to create safe spaces for dialogue, empathy, and critical thinking; the very tools that authoritarianism seeks to destroy.
One of the most impactful moments of the training came through a dynamic debate exercises. The facilitator placed statements, some controversial, others provocative, and asked us to position ourselves based on how much we agreed or disagreed. What began as a simple movement exercise turned into a vivid conversation. We didn’t face each other as opponents, but as equals, trying to understand the “why” behind every opinion. Through this process, we experienced what genuine democratic dialogue feels like: disagreement without division, debate without hostility.
Another powerful session focused on indicators of authoritarian discourse. Using visual cards filled with symbolic illustrations, we were challenged to identify elements that reflect authoritarianism in real life. As we decoded each image, we realized that many of those indicators also exist, in subtler forms, within our own democracies. This realization was sobering. It revealed how fragile democracy can be, not because it suddenly disappears, but because it gradually weakens when we stop questioning, stop listening, and stop caring.
That week in Comarruga we learned that combating authoritarian discourse requires more than political awareness; it requires emotional intelligence, dialogue, and empathy. It means teaching young people to think critically, to challenge what they hear, and to recognize manipulation disguised as “truth.”
We left the room where all the discussion happened, with a renewed sense of purpose. Under the umbrella of hope, we understood that defending democracy is not the responsibility of a few; it is a shared effort, built through every conversation, every act of listening, and every refusal to stay silent.
