Canadian researchers join Trans-Atlantic Platform projects aimed at strengthening democracy, governance and trust

August 15, 2024, Ottawa, Ontario—Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

In times of change and upheaval, democracies face new pressures that can erode public confidence and weaken society.

To address this challenge, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) is awarding nearly $2.3 million to Canadian researchers to work on 12 international research projects that will improve our understanding of democracy, governance and trust.

The awards will be distributed through the Trans-Atlantic Platform (T-AP) call Democracy, Governance and Trust (DGT), which supports international research on how to deepen and widen our knowledge and understanding of opportunities, challenges, and crises relevant to democracy, governance and trust.

SSHRC’s co-funding for 12 of the 18 research projects in the call will explore topics that shape democracies. These include independent journalism in an age of disinformation; trust and accountability in the non-profit charity sector; enhancing citizen participation with Open Democracy; and understanding impacts of Big Tech and artificial intelligence. The Fonds de recherche du Québec is also a T-AP DGT partner.

By working with international partners and across borders, researchers can test out theories in diverse social, political, cultural and economic contexts, compare approaches and findings, and improve our understanding of how to strengthen our democracies. With this funding, some of Canada’s brightest minds in the social sciences and humanities will help generate insights for building stronger societies and a more peaceful and prosperous world.