Under the title of Challenges in a Hostile Scenario, this chapter addresses the socio-political conditions in which communication occurs, delving into the perverse synergies between three major threats facing Western democracies: polarisation, disinformation, and the rise of populism. This section combines the theoretical and empirical approach to the three concepts on which it pivots, based on a bibliographic review and a survey that takes the pulse and delves into the perception of citizens. The first part of the chapter focuses on the dynamics of populism and polarisation, considering socio-political trends in the international context and how they manifest within the Spanish context. Through the survey, both dimensions have been tested, based on the positioning of citizens in response to a series of statements. These responses allow us to observe both social fractures and support for certain populist attitudes concerning representatives of various powers, including the political class, financial sectors, the media, and international organisations. The responses of 1200 individuals, representative of Spanish society, also allow us to identify the main fault lines around significant social issues such as national identity, gender equality, immigration, climate change, and housing. The second part of the chapter focuses on disinformation, offering a detailed analysis of this phenomenon within the Spanish context. Based on public responses, an overview is provided of how citizens perceive the problem of disinformation, the sources they attribute to the origin of false content, how they act when such content is detected, and what measures receive public support in combating it. The results provide a comprehensive picture of this phenomenon and potential solutions to address it.