13th World Forum for Democracy – Democracy at risk: how can we revive it?

As democracy faces growing strains around the world, citizens are increasingly feeling overlooked and disconnected. Growing economic inequality, rapid technological change, and the spread of disinformation are undermining trust in institutions, leaving fundamental freedoms and democratic checks vulnerable to populist and autocratic pressures.

The 13th World Forum for Democracy, themed “Democracy at Risk: How Can We Revive It?”, brought together voices from across the globe, including alumni of the Schools of Political Studies of the Council of Europe, to confront these challenges head-on. The forum explored how journalism, arts, culture, and digital technologies can both strengthen and threaten democracy, and highlighted strategies to protect media freedom, foster pluralistic debate, and engage citizens meaningfully in political life.

Through dialogue, collaboration, and innovation, the 13th World Forum for Democracy aimed to chart paths toward renewed citizen trust, strengthened democratic culture, and meaningful participation in governance. It also contributed directly to the New Democratic Pact for Europe, a strategic consultation process by the Council of Europe designed to restore trust, amplify democracy’s benefits, and ensure that democratic institutions remain responsive, inclusive, and resilient.