Political communication is increasingly failing not because of weak messaging, but because it operates in high-pressure environments shaped by economic stress, polarisation, and highly charged issues such as migration. My main argument is that communication strategies across Europe are still optimised for stable conditions, while audiences are reacting under pressure — seeking certainty, simplified narratives, and clear group boundaries. This gap helps explain why polarising and anti-migration narratives gain traction so effectively. The session will cover how stress and perceived threat reshape audience behaviour, why migration debates amplify communication breakdown, and how political actors can respond to divisive narratives without reinforcing them. It directly relates to the Summit’s focus by shifting the discussion from tools and tactics to the underlying conditions that determine whether political communication succeeds or fails.