Dive into the story
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The Book of Common Ground: Fairytales for a Polarised World is a fairytale designed to make us think differently about polarisation.
Polarisation is on the rise.
How can we find common ground?
For centuries, storytelling has helped us explore complex issues and speak truth to power. In a world that feels more divided than ever, could the rich tradition of the fairytale offer new ways to address the urgent issue of polarisation? Instead of dry debates and data, we offer an imaginative, illustrated narrative that invites both political leaders and the public to think differently, move beyond divisions, and engage in meaningful conversations across political lines.
Developed in partnership with the Evens Foundation and Awe Studio, the Book of Common Ground embraces an unconventional approach to spark conversation and inspire positive action.
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Background of the characters
How did they get here
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The Big Bad Vegan Wolf
The Big Bad Vegan Wolf is convinced that veganism is the only way to save Common Ground from environmental disaster —extreme weather, driven by food-related emissions, has been wreaking havoc on the island. But convincing his neighbours to change their lifestyle won’t be easy, especially given his carnivorous past...
Little Red Riding Hood
The heroine of our story, Little Red, is still the devoted Granddaughter we know, but this time she’s armed with something new—a magic cape infused with depolarisation techniques. As divisions rise in Common Ground over agricultural developments, extreme weather, and the arrival of newcomers, her cape becomes essential to restoring harmony.
Pinocchio
Pinocchio is the local woodcutter, but he’s haunted by the worry that newcomers to Common Ground threaten the security of his job. In the past, Pinocchio experienced misfortune after trusting strangers. Can he overcome his fear to see the new inhabitants for who they really are? After all, the newcomers only want to help their new community thrive.
About the project
How the story came to be
The Common Ground project began with a workshop focused on creating meaningful intergenerational conversations around polarisation in the lead-up to the 2024 EU elections. The idea of using fairytales as a way to talk about polarising topics grew out of the conversations between generations.
The idea was developed by Awe Studio and the Evens Foundation, using insights from Re-Imagine Europa and its R.E.F.R.A.M.E methodology, which applies psychology and semiotics to depolarise conversations. The methodology uses a systematic approach to guide people away from divisive rhetoric towards more constructive and inclusive dialogue.
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Polarisation in the EU
Across Europe, debates about climate change, migration, and politics are creating division. Both the left and right are moving in radical directions, and trust is eroding. Polarisation between genders and generations is at an all-time high—in Generation Z, young men are increasingly taking on more conservative positions, while their female counterparts are moving in the opposite direction.
In the 2024 European Elections, the far-right increased their vote share across the continent, while pro-EU parties hold opposing positions on key issues such as climate change and migration. The Book of Common Ground wants to inspire action and change the way we talk about the issues that divide us.
The story
Our story unfolds in a mythical fairytale kingdom, where familiar characters live together in (almost) harmony. But when their once-peaceful community is torn apart by polarised attitudes, our heroine Little Red Riding Hood steps in. Faced with challenges like migration, climate change, and agriculture—echoing real-world debates—Little Red, armed with her magical cape, embarks on a journey to help her neighbours bridge divides.
Her journey shows that, even in times of deep disagreement, there's always a path towards common ground. By placing these insights in a fairytale setting, we aim to inspire political leaders and the public to think differently about what divides and unites us.
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