In a politically polarized Brazil in 2018, where hate speech about minority groups was a staple in presidential campaign livestreams –
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The 2025 World Forum for Democracy focused on revitalizing democracy by rebuilding citizen trust, strengthening democratic culture, and fostering meaningful participation in governance.
August 2025Mirka Karra, Thessaloniki [ultimate_spacer height=”20″] Democracy is often thought of in terms of national elections or EU institutions. Yet, when it comes to civic participation, the biggest gaps are often found at the municipal level. Recent data underscores the issue: in France, more than 60% of voters abstained from participating in the most recent…
A Greek citizen’s basic needs are no longer met, and the growing distrust in democracy reflects that
August 2025Konstantinos Kougkas, Veria [ultimate_spacer height=”20″] To claim that the last decade has been a challenge for western democracies would be a wildly simplistic understatement. Financial turmoil, migrant crises, the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine have all played their part in diminishing trust in democratic institutions across most European…
August 2025Konstantinos Kostoulas, Athens [ultimate_spacer height=”20″] The European Union is often described as one of the most ambitious political projects in modern history. Conceived in the ashes of two devastating World Wars, it was designed to secure peace, foster prosperity, and gradually build a common European identity. For decades, the EU seemed to embody precisely…
August 2025Fridoon Joinda, Athens [ultimate_spacer height=”20″][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Introduction” heading_tag=”h3″ alignment=”left” margin_design_tab_text=””][/ultimate_heading][ultimate_spacer height=”20″] Democracy stands at a critical turning point, challenged globally by declining trust, misinformation, polarization, and social divisions. Rapid technological advancements, particularly artificial intelligence, have created abundant yet unreliable information, leaving citizens overwhelmed, disconnected, and skeptical about the value of their voices. Reviving democratic culture…
August 2025Myrto Lyka, Volos [ultimate_spacer height=”20″] The question “How and why are democratic nations gradually losing their fundamental values?” is at the heart of public debate regarding the growing inability of democratic societies to provide the prosperity and security they promise to their citizens. Greece, as the birthplace of democracy, can serve as a distinctive…
In a politically polarized Brazil in 2018, where hate speech about minority groups was a staple in presidential campaign livestreams –
The 2024 World Forum for Democracy focused on overcoming polarization and disinformation by embracing diversity to strengthen democratic values.
Discrimination, racist violence, and hate speech took center stage in a dynamic three-day training organised by Symbiosis – Council of Europe School of Political Studies in Greece.
The 2024 European elections, the role of information, and their importance for democracy were the subjects of a two-day intensive dialogue held on 20 and 21 May in Thessaloniki organised by Symbiosis-Council of Europe School of Political Studies in Greece….
Symbiosis – Council of Europe School of Political Studies in Greece organised a training for Young European Journalists, with the support of European Parliament Liaison Office in Greece and Inside Story.
“Living Together: A Handbook on Migration and Social Inclusion” is designed to provide essential guidance for individuals navigating migration challenges. Tailored to the unique needs of migrants and refugees, this handbook focuses on fostering social inclusion in Greece.
The 11th World Forum for Democracy looked for innovative solutions and collaborative strategies to fortify the symbiotic bond between democracy and peace, recognizing that their interdependence is pivotal in navigating the complex challenges of our time.
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The Webinar on ‘Countering Hate Speech’, organised by Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece, affiliated to the Council of Europe Network of Schools, took place online via the Symbiosis’ Education Platform during the months of June and July 2023.
Symbiosis – Council of Europe School of Political Studies in Greece organised a training for Young European Journalists, with the support of European Parliament Liaison Office in Greece and Inside Story.
This research paper is the outcome of the Borderline Offensive project and aims to address a series of questions:
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece, affiliated to the Council of Europe Network, has implemented the 3rd 2022 Seminar on “Democratic Competences” online from November to December 2022.
The 10th World Forum for Democracy looked for the key contributing factors to democratic decline, considered how these might be addressed, and explored what kind of democratic future is desirable, and possible, in the interests of people across the world.
The Forum discuss on how, fueled by politics, economics and history, the global take on the war in Ukraine has varied from region to region, particularly given the role that (dis)information has played in influencing these views.
On this page you can take a look at available audiovisual material regarding Democratic Governance.
On this page you can take a look at available audiovisual material regarding Environment.
On this page you can take a look at available audiovisual material regarding Education.
On this page you can take a look at available audiovisual material regarding Democratic Citizenship.
On this page you can take a look at available audiovisual material regarding Anti-Discrimination.
On this page you can take a look at available audiovisual material regarding Freedom of Expression.
On this page you can take a look at available audiovisual material regarding Migration.
On this page you can take a look at available audiovisual material regarding Social Inclusion.
On this page you can take a look at available audiovisual material regarding Human Rights.
On this page you can take a look at available audiovisual material regarding Gender Equality.
The Seminar on ‘Democracy(ies) in flux’ organised by Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece, affiliated to the Council of Europe Network of Schools, took place online during the months of April-May 2022 via the Symbiosis’ Education Platform.
The Guide to Job Oriented Linguistic Support for Migrants and Refugees aims to support migrants and refugees in Greece in familiarising themselves with the primary objectives of the employment/labour legislation, as well as the working life conditions of the country they reside in, and to provide tailor-made solutions for their job-oriented linguistic support.
The Seminar on “Rethinking Humanitarianism” organised by Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece took place online during the months of November-December 2021.
Following the successful dissemination of the Council of Europe LIAM toolkit in 2018-19-20, Symbiosis implemented the project ‘LIAM Labour Linguistic Integration 2021 (LiLaLI 2021)’.
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece organised three days of education and engagement activities on Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Awareness Raising on Gender Issues from 21 to 23 July 2021 at the ‘Agia Eleni’ Open Refugee Camp in Ioannina.
The Online Seminar took place every Tuesday, June 22 & 29 and July 6 & 13 2021, organised by Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece in collaboration with the joint program of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, JUSTROM 3.
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece, affiliated to the Council of Europe Network of School organised in June 2021 an eight-day Online Seminar on Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence Prevention at the Local Level, with the support of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Foundation-Thessaloniki Office.
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece organised an Online Educational Programme on Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Gender Issues for cultural mediators and interpreters working with refugee and migrant men.
The Webinars on Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence Prevention took place from 23 to 25 February and from 1 to 3 March 2021 via the Zoom platform.
With this manual we present a practice-oriented guide for facilitators on the implementation of intervention and education programs to provide gender-sensitive prevention services. It was developed within the framework of the European project FOMEN: Focus on Men. Gender Based Violence Prevention Work with Male Refugees and Migrants (2019 – 2021).
International organisations estimate that a large number of the approximately 680,000 stateless persons currently residing in Europe are Roma, without identification documents such as birth certificates, ID cards, or passports to prove their identity, legal status and citizenship.
With the vote on the legal gender recognition, the leading state body, the Greek Parliament, overturned in 2017 the long-established notion of gender in Greece and opened the debate on gender issues in the public sphere, a debate pending for a long time.
Since 2018, Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece, affiliated to the Council of Europe Network of Schools, has been engaged in promoting in Greece the Linguistic Integration of Adult Migrants (LIAM) Toolkit to educators.
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece implemented an online Seminar/Webinars on Gender Equality and Violence Prevention, with a focus on men, targeting School alumni and the 2020 cohort, particularly those close to the topic.
During 2020, Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece carried out visibility and dissemination activities of the Council of Europe Linguistic Integration for Migrants and Refugees programme.
The 9th World Forum for Democracy responded to world events. From November 2020 to November 2021 discussions took place online, giving us a chance to share throughout the year via webinars, online discussions and – when conditions permitted it – face to face.
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece has implemented the 3rd online Seminar: Webinars on “Re-wiring Democracy: connecting institutions and citizens in the digital age”, blended with a physical kick off workshop in the period during September to November 2020.
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece implemented the Webinars on Rights and Inclusion in the Times of COVID-19 during the period of June-July 2020.
Due to the COVID-19 related restrictions, Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece held online first seminar of 2020 entitled “Human Rights, Equality, Anti-Discrimination and Social Inclusion” during the period from May to early June.
This publication is based on the Webinars on “Can Democracy Save the Environment?” organised by Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece, affiliated to the Council of Europe Network of Schoolsduring December 2020 within the framework of the 9th version of the World Forum for Democracy.
An interdisciplinary collection of essays designed to map out a wide-ranging present and future of migration, integration, inclusion and symbiosis, in Greece and in Europe, this volume addresses selected topics of the current state of the field and points to significant challenges.
This publication is a Self-trainingNotebook on EU, Social Inclusion and Anti-DiscriminationPolicies, produced by Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece in the framework of the Jean Monnet project Discourses on Symbiosis.
This publication is a Self-trainingNotebook on EU and Integration Policies for Third-CountryNationals, produced by Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece in the framework of the Jean Monnet project Discourses on Symbiosis.
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies affiliated to the Council of Europe Network of Schools organised in Athens a two-day seminar, from 11 to 12 December 2019, on ‘Addressing Gender-Based Violence.
Symbiosis – School of Political Studies in Greece, Network of Council of Europe, held on the 11th of December 2019 in Serafeio Athletic & Community Complex, Athens an Experts’ Workshop on Setting up a Council of Europe Academy for Democratic Leadership for Persons with a Refugee Background.
This project’s overall objective is to contribute pro-actively to the successful integration of newcomers into European societies.
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies affiliated to the Council of Europe Network of Schools organised in Thessaloniki a three-day seminar, from 5 to 7 December 2019, on ‘Information and Democracy’.
Information is changing. The volume, the content, the platforms: each of these has evolved beyond recognition in a short period of time. This evolution continues. Twenty-five years ago, most of our information came from print publications, television and radio.
Linguistic Integration of Adult Migrants (LIAM) – Dissemination and Implementation Project in Greece
From June to December 2019, Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece, affiliated to the Network of the Council of Europe, in co-operation with the German organisation Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) carried out the LIAM – Dissemination and Implementation’ project in Greece.
The Thessaloniki Integration Forum “Je t’ aime, … moi non plus: Reframing migration and integration challenges in Greece and Europe” took place on 9-11 May 2019 at the Thessaloniki Municipal Hall, organized by Symbiosis-School of political studies in Greece.
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece organized nine training workshops on Gender, Reproductive and Primary Health for Migrant Communities from March to June 2019 in Athens.
The document provides basic tips to help teams to better structure the identification of data sources, conducting focus groups, reporting of outcomes and disseminating outcomes.
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece organised on Friday 21 December an event to discuss, plan and organise the Setting up of a Laboratory for Documentation and Communication.
The Civic Roundtable is an annual event offering 30 fellows from different European countries and beyond a platform to study trends and challenges and to experiment with various ways to forge better civics across Europe. There have now been four successful editions of the Civic Roundtable.
The forum was organized by Symβiosis, Piraeus Municipality and the Royal Embassy of Norway. It aimed to bring together key actors from across Greece – including government and municipality representatives, civil society organizations, migrant and refugee associations.
The seventh edition of the World Forum for Democracy, entitled “Gender equality – Whose battle?”was dedicated to gender equality and women’s rightsin the wake of #MeToo. The Forum gathered more than 2000 participants from over 80 countries.
On 7-9 November 2018, in Thessaloniki, the first Intercultural Integration Academy was held at the initiative of the Intercultural Cities programme of the Council of Europe and the Symbiosis-School of Political Studied in Greece.
The Reference Framework is based on the Council of Europe’s long-standing values of equality, dignity and respect. It highlights the necessary skills needed to equip young people with the values, attitudes, skills, knowledge and critical understanding required for actively participating in today’s societies.
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece, organised the ‘Sapere Aude: Responsible Citizenship’ seminar, concluding event of the curriculum 2018 under the implementation of the SCE core programme.
The Seminar “Is a common Europe possible?” took place at the School of Aristotle in the city of Naoussa from 6 to 8 July 2018.
Cities are not only the sites where contemporary ‘wicked policy issues’, such as migration, inequality and sustainability crystallise in a bundled way. They are also considered an engine of social and political change – and governance innovation.
The ‘Language support for Adult Migrants and refugees (LIAM): a Council of Europe Toolkit’ seminars, was organised during 2018 in Athens and Thessaloniki by Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece, affiliated to the Council of Europe Network.
The Athens Lab on “Unpacking Integration” was organized by Symbiosis -School of Political Studies on 15 to 17 December 2017, in cooperation with the Municipalities of Athens and Thessaloniki.
The sixth edition of the World Forum for Democracy gathered more than 2000 participants from over 80 countries. Politicians and international leaders provided their views on the question of populism and its impact on traditional party and media structures as well as on multilateralism.
The Seminar Europe Quo vadis? What Future for Europe aimed to analyse the root causes of increasing Euro-scepticism and expand on the various options for re-launching the European project.
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in collaboration with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, and PRIO Cyprus Centre organised a conference on Gender, Migration and Trafficking in Europe on 29 September 2017 in Nicosia, Cyprus, to explore these three interlinked topics as they manifest across Europe today.
The Seminar on Gender, Human Rights and Media took place in Thessaloniki, 27-30 June 2017, under the aegis of the Secretariat for Human Rights, Ministry of Justice.
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece organized four capacity building trainings on Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) from April to June 2017 in Thessaloniki with the support of the UNFPA mission in Greece. The four trainings, 8 hour duration each which is in total of 32 hours of training delivered.
From smart data to infrastructure, participatory design to migration, the Lab shared a multidisciplinary focus and a forward-looking vision of how our urban future can be shaped to achieve better outcomes for communities, businesses and local authorities.
The 2016 World Forum for Democracy gathered 2200 participants from more than 100 countries.Political institutions representatives, young activists,academia, media, business circles, civil society organisations, social innovators and educators.
The event responded to current concerns about rising levels of Islamophobia, as well as stigmatisation of other religions, whilst acknowledging the rights of all individuals and groups -whether religious or not- under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Following on from the Syros Migration Policy Lab in September 2015, the aim of the Athens Refugee Policy Lab – From reception to integration: Evidence and innovation has been to engage multiple stakeholders in a dialogue, assessing refugee reception efforts in Greece since 2015.
The Forum on Freedom of Media and Human Rights fostered knowledge and discussion that protect press freedoms, increase public access to knowledge and information, the inclusion of minority voices in media, and use of communication and information to address pressing social issues.
The 2015 edition of the World Forum for Democracy took place after the 13 November Paris attacks, highlighting the pertinence of the theme chosen and the urge to provide answers to the three sets of questions raised.
Symbiosis, the Civil School of Political Studies in Greece, Network of Council of Europe, organised the Migration Policy Lab on “Safeguarding fundamental rights in the midst of increasing migratory flows and social crisis” in Syros from 3 to 7 September 2015.
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece, affiliated to the Council of Europe Network of Schools, organised the seminar in Xanthi from 24 to 26 March, 2015, in line with Symbiosis commitment to decentralization.
A joint seminar by the affiliated to the Council of Europe Istanbul and Symbiosis-Schools of Political Studies in Greece, investigating the possibilities for Politics of Friendship today, took place on 27-30 December 2014.
The 2014 edition of the World Forum for Democracy gathered representatives of civil society, media and business circles, academics, young activists, and political leaders from more than 100 countries to discuss the issues and challenges of youth participation and the opportunities they offer for democratic renewal.
The five-day seminar on “Challenges of democracy in Europe today: Democratic representation, legitimisation, mobilization, public and social inclusion”, was organized in Xanthi, 20-25 August 2014
The Seminar organised by the Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece in collaboration with the School of Journalism and Mass Communications of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) and the Journalists’ Association of Northern Greece (ESIEM-Th), took place on 28-30 May 2014 in Thessaloniki.
A Seminar on “The 2014 European Elections, Democracy and Discrimination” was organized by Symbiosis on 5-7 April 2014, under the auspices of the Council of Europe network of Schools for Political Studies, at the Journalists Association (ESIEMTH) premises in Thessaloniki.
European elections, democracy and discrimination: Facing the rise of racism and xenophobia in Greece
This publication (available only in Greek) was based on the Seminar ‘The 2014 European Elections, Democracy and Discrimination’ organised by Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece on 5-7 April 2014 in Thessaloniki.