Taking the pulse of #democracy: 5 takeaways from Athens Democracy Forum 2023

During the final week of September 2023, the Kofi Annan Foundation, represented by Corinne Momal-Vanian , Declan O'Brien and Karen Zamberia-Verdesca , participated in the Athens Democracy Forum, hosted by The Democracy & Culture Foundation and 纽约时报 . During the Forum, speakers and panels explored the future of democracy, and participants - politicians and policymakers, academics and activists, veterans and youth - were challenged to advance concrete solutions and programmes for democracy. Following the Forum, we share our five key takeaways.

Our five key takeaways from Athens Democracy Forum ?:

1) We Are Entering the "Roaring 20s"?

This was the 11th Athens Democracy Forum (ADF). For much of its first decade, the ADF was the scene of interesting discussions with luminaries and senior figures from politics, media, and the private sector- lively, engaging, but always somewhat skin-deep. In recent years, it has evolved beyond this live-journalism model, and while debate and discussion remain central to the event's ethos, it has become a Forum with impressive substance.

The Athens Democracy Forum, now in its second decade, generates ideas, partnerships and alliances, not only headlines.

Participation has expanded to include grassroots activists worldwide, young people, and civil society organisations from countries where democracy is under real stress. Similarly, The Democracy & Culture Foundation , host of the Forum, has expanded its ambitions and activities and is directly implementing or incubating innovative and interesting projects – the ADF, in its second decade, generates ideas, partnerships and alliances, not only headlines, and it is proving increasing valuable to be present.??

2) Young people are the best hope for democracy...

Young people may be disillusioned with the way their elders have practised democracy, but they are convinced that governance should be based on inclusion, fairness, and accountability.?

Few conferences have taken more steps than Athens Democracy Forum to put young people at the centre of discussions. Youth have input on the ADF agenda, are participating in panels, and developing and sharing policy recommendations and ideas to make democracy more responsive to their priorities.?

ADF now includes a separate but complementary Teens For Democracy Forum, and this year marked the inaugural edition of the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize. We highly recommend watching Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize winner Namatai Kwezeka's ( Namatai K. ) acceptance speech, embedded below, which is both inspirational and insightful.

3)...and democracy is the best hope for our planet.??

We have gone beyond climate change and are well into the climate crisis.

Grappling with the enormity of the steps needed to be taken to address this challenge, some have suggested that authoritarian dictatorships alone possess the control and authority required to deliver radical change. This is unqualified nonsense – delivering climate action requires all hands on deck, and the participatory nature of a truly inclusive democratic society is the only option.

Even current models of top-down democracy cannot deliver – we need to broaden participation and promote models of bottom-up, grassroots action to mobilize every level of our societies.

In fact, even current models of top-down democracy cannot deliver – we need to broaden participation and promote models of bottom-up, grassroots action to mobilise every level of our societies around the myriad of issues on which effective climate action depends - inequality, socio-economic growth, the empowerment of marginalised communities, deployment of green technologies...The list is daunting.

4) Innovation, Innovation, Innovation?

The climate crisis highlights the need for democracy to evolve, and the Athens Democracy Forum is emerging as a key forum for recognising innovations in democratic governance.

From the continuing momentum behind local deliberative processes, a new EU-wide permanent citizens assembly, and citizens committees drafting candidates to run in elections – the ADF continues to attract the individuals and organisations working to make democracy work.

It is fascinating to see how people around the world are re-imagining the building blocks of democracy to ensure it delivers the hopes and aspirations of their communities. This exchange of knowledge, ideas and strategies ensures that ADF is increasingly becoming the launching pad for new projects and partnerships.??

5) The "Mega Election" Year

Over 30 countries will hold elections in 2024, including the US, India, Taiwan, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and the UK – not to mention the EU parliamentary elections. The stakes - for individual countries and the global community of democracies – are high. If nothing else, 2024 will be a major test for - and indicator of - the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in elections, while existing threats exacerbated by technology, such as disinformation and the negative impacts of social media platforms, remain rampant.

"2024 will be a major test for the role of AI in elections, while existing threats exacerbated by technology, such as disinformation and the negative impacts of social media platforms, remain rampant."

Elections in 2024 will come at a time of intense geopolitical competition, which will encourage foreign interference and drive polarisation within and between communities, and in some countries, the potential for elections to turn violent is real.?

While optimists may view 2024 as an opportunity to showcase the power of democracy and the role and rights of citizens to have a say in how they are governed and by whom, it could also be a watershed moment that adds significant fuel to the fire of democratic disillusionment.??

In either case, it will add a special importance to the 2024 Athens Democracy Forum – the Forum will need to be bigger, more inclusive, and reach a wider audience to continue to make the case that democracy- real democracy- is transformative.??

The Kofi Annan Foundation is pleased to serve on the board of the Democracy and Culture Foundation. Read more on the subject of supporting democracy and elections with integrity on our website.