Five trends and some reflections on democracy
On global democracy
Topic: Democracy – Trust – Participation – Innovation
By: Tatiana Forero , Territorial Leader of Citizen Participation
In recent months I participated in the Global Forum Modern Direct Democracy in Bucharest, Romania, an event that focused on the importance of trust for strengthening democracy, and I also participated in the Member Convening of People Powered: 'Building Inclusive Democracy' , in Poland.
Both experiences allowed me to delve deeper into global trends in democracy. Below, I share some reflections I took away from both trips:
1. Conflict, civic security, and democracy
This topic was central to the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy, due to the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. This conflict was addressed from various angles: international relations, citizen mobilization, and civil society support for migrants. The growing perception in Eastern Europe that authoritarianism might be preferable to democracy was also discussed, a concern given the region's recent transition from communism to democracy.
2. Trust in democracy: a common challenge
Distrust in democracy was a recurring theme that emerged as something we must address in future forums and workshops. At the event in Poland, with 77 participants from 28 countries, after a collective prioritization process, distrust in institutions and low citizen participation were highlighted as the greatest democratic challenges . For example, it was noted that in some of these participating countries, people tend to trust churches more than parliaments, reflecting a significant breakdown in public institutions.
On the other hand, we had the opportunity to learn about EDEM: Trust in European Democracies, a comparative research project that monitors the structural factors that influence political trust and proposes strategies to strengthen it, focusing on Europe: https://www.truedem.eu/
3. Between the local, the regional and the global.
There is a consensus that it is increasingly crucial to work from the local level and combine local learning with regional and global perspectives to address the problems and opportunities related to citizen participation, trust, and open government. Intentionally creating spaces for learning and collaboration between different territorial levels is proving to be a key strategy for helping to revitalize citizen participation and democracy.
4. Direct and participatory democracy
During both events, experiences of direct and participatory democracy were addressed, presenting concrete examples of referendums, plebiscites, citizen assemblies, participatory budgets, legislative theater, and participatory planning and development of public policies.
Regarding assemblies, I would like to highlight the work of Marjan H. Ehsassi, who explained the relationship of this mechanism with social cohesion.
5. Recurring themes
During the events, technology was constantly discussed, especially the growing usability of artificial intelligence, analyzing both its potential and its limitations and specifically addressing the phenomenon of disinformation.
The issue of climate change was also addressed , along with the urgent need for democracy to commit to this agenda, especially given the inequalities it generates. Finally, the topic of youth was frequently discussed , recognizing them as the primary demographic for organizations working in these areas. In this regard, examples such as the "Schools of Democracy" implemented in Polish schools were highlighted, where students gain greater influence and participation in public decision-making.
Other personal reflections on my experience in Romania and Poland:
The prevailing view of democracy and participation is highly institutionalized within the public sector, with little or no consideration given to the role of other sectors, such as the private sector . There is a focus on civil society and public institutions, emphasizing political advocacy and influence on decision-makers. However, other factors that can drive desired change are neglected, such as strategic relationships and alliances, as well as approaches to cultural and behavioral transformation that can lead to more sustainable changes over time.
The systems approach has great value as a way to take a holistic approach to the issues addressed. The work developed by the Corona Foundation is remarkable in this area and can serve as a model for strengthening and overcoming structural and institutional limitations. At the People Powered event, a discussion was held on an article presented by Josh Lerner , which advocates for the incorporation of this perspective.
Mistrust remains one of the most pressing issues in the democratic context, although there has been little concrete progress in addressing it effectively. At Fundación Corona, we have made progress in developing specific studies, such as behavioral science experiments and projects in places like Barranquilla, Yumbo, and Bogotá. This allows us to identify concrete and consolidated action plans and share experiences with stakeholders interested in tackling this challenge.