THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN FIGHTING DISINFORMATION: SUCCESSES, FAILURES, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN ROMANIA IN THE EU CONTEXT
Copyright policy )THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN FIGHTING DISINFORMATION: SUCCESSES, FAILURES, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN ROMANIA IN THE EU CONTEXT
EUROPOLITY, vol. 19, no. 2, 2025 “The Role of Civil Society in Fighting Disinformation: Successes, Failures, and Future Directions in Romania in the EU Context” Authors CEUȘAN, Ilie Florin – PhD CandidateUniversity of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu-Mureș, Romania COSTEA, Maria – PhD, ResearcherRomanian Academy, “Gheorghe Șincai” Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities of Târgu-Mureș, Romania COSTEA, Simion – PhD, Professor“George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu-Mureș, Romania Journal EUROPOLITY. Continuity and Change in European Governance Publication details Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Year: 2025 Pages: 71-87 Country of publication: Romania Abstract Disinformation has emerged as one of the most significant threats to democratic governance, public trust, and social cohesion in both Romania and the European Union. This article analyses the evolving role of civil society organizations, universities, and governmental institutions in countering disinformation, with a particular focus on Romania and comparative European practices. It highlights successful initiatives such as fact-checking platforms, academic media-literacy programs, and partnerships with EU-level bodies, while also identifying persistent shortcomings, including the absence of a coherent national strategy, limited regulatory enforcement, and weak cross-sector cooperation. Drawing on agenda-setting and framing theories, the study demonstrates how disinformation reshapes public priorities and distorts perceptions, and how civil society interventions can reframe narratives and restore factual integrity. Empirical evidence from European Digital Media Observatory reports and Eurobarometer surveys illustrates Romania’s vulnerability, especially during electoral cycles and crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on best practices from Finland and other EU member states, the article advances policy recommendations centred on media-literacy education, cognitive resilience, support for independent journalism, and enhanced EU–Romania cooperation. The findings confirm that only a multi-stakeholder and transnational approach can effectively strengthen societal resilience against disinformation. Keywords Civil society; disinformation; Eastern Europe; European Union; media literacy; regulatory framework Language English
- Romanian Academy Romania
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Târgu Mureş Romania
Political geography, History, European People, Artificial intelligence, Economic rights, Political counselling, Geopolitics, Intelligence, European union, Political policies, European commission, Risk communication, Russia, Eastern europe, European People/classification, International relations – decision-making, Civil Rights/standards, Western europe, Political party, Human rights, Civil Rights, Human Activities, Human rights violations, Human Rights/methods, Disinformation, International relations history, Finland, Emotional Intelligence, International relations JEL Classification Q42, Political violence, Political transitions, War Exposure, Communication, Political power, Human Rights Abuses, Political Systems/classification, Europe, Political communication, [SHS.HIST] Humanities and Social Sciences/History, Communication policy, Propaganda, Women's Rights, [SHS] Humanities and Social Sciences, War, War Crimes, Communication industry, Human Rights, European communities, Political Science, Persuasive Communication, Citizen rights, European standard, Political Systems/economics, Communication/history, European Union/economics, Crimean War, European parliament, Eastern European People, International relations--Political aspects, Artificial Intelligence, Human migration, European Union, Nonverbal Communication, Communication system, European Union/history, Computational intelligence, Romania, Political Systems, Intelligence/classification, Political doctrine, European Union - External relations, Contemporary history, History, 20th Century, Political Activism/trends, Global Governance Institute Brussels, Scholarly Communication, Internal european market, Human Rights/standards, Political philosophy, Political ideology, Political organisation, European People/education, European People/history, Political Activism, Interdisciplinary Communication, Political sciences, EU, Rights, [SHS.SCIPO] Humanities and Social Sciences/Political science
Political geography, History, European People, Artificial intelligence, Economic rights, Political counselling, Geopolitics, Intelligence, European union, Political policies, European commission, Risk communication, Russia, Eastern europe, European People/classification, International relations – decision-making, Civil Rights/standards, Western europe, Political party, Human rights, Civil Rights, Human Activities, Human rights violations, Human Rights/methods, Disinformation, International relations history, Finland, Emotional Intelligence, International relations JEL Classification Q42, Political violence, Political transitions, War Exposure, Communication, Political power, Human Rights Abuses, Political Systems/classification, Europe, Political communication, [SHS.HIST] Humanities and Social Sciences/History, Communication policy, Propaganda, Women's Rights, [SHS] Humanities and Social Sciences, War, War Crimes, Communication industry, Human Rights, European communities, Political Science, Persuasive Communication, Citizen rights, European standard, Political Systems/economics, Communication/history, European Union/economics, Crimean War, European parliament, Eastern European People, International relations--Political aspects, Artificial Intelligence, Human migration, European Union, Nonverbal Communication, Communication system, European Union/history, Computational intelligence, Romania, Political Systems, Intelligence/classification, Political doctrine, European Union - External relations, Contemporary history, History, 20th Century, Political Activism/trends, Global Governance Institute Brussels, Scholarly Communication, Internal european market, Human Rights/standards, Political philosophy, Political ideology, Political organisation, European People/education, European People/history, Political Activism, Interdisciplinary Communication, Political sciences, EU, Rights, [SHS.SCIPO] Humanities and Social Sciences/Political science
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