In an age of declining trust, polarisation and information overload, political communication has become very good at reaching people — and often much less successful at actually changing how they think or feel. This session brings together David Mair of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, Jennifer Nadel of Compassion in Politics, and Professor Jörg Matthes of the University of Vienna to ask what the research tells us about reconnecting citizens with democratic politics. From the role of emotions, values, identities and narratives to the effects of negativity, incivility and polarisation, the discussion will explore which forms of communication build trust, openness and engagement — and which push citizens further away. Drawing on behavioural science, political communication research and the practical experience of applying compassion to politics, the panel will translate the evidence into a central challenge for communicators: how can political leaders win back minds and hearts without sacrificing honesty, complexity or democratic debate?