The World Forum for Democracy, initiated in 2012, is a platform for dialogue and innovation in democratic governance, which promotes the Council of Europe principles across the world. A unique event of its kind, it addresses key challenges facing democracy taking as a starting point ground-breaking initiatives, and fostering debate between different actors in order to find concrete solutions. A democratic exercise in itself, the Forum aims at giving the people – demos – their rightful place in political decision-making. It thus contributes to the evolution of democracy towards more participatory and inclusive structures and institutions, and to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 16 on building just and peaceful societies.
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece participates every year since 2014 in the World Forum for Democracy at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg with approximately fifteen selected students as part of the School’s annual educational programme.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.