Are you joining us in Switzerland?

Having arrived in a new decade, new opportunities to make the world a more peaceful and democratic place present themselves. Pull up your calendars, because we want you to join us for a busy year.

The recent elections in Taiwan, where we held the 2019 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy, underline the power of democracy. On January 11, more than 14 million voters turned out to support those leaders and candidates who have been instrumental in making the island state one of the most participatory countries in the world.

At the next Global Forum, we want to explore even more deeply the practice and future of modern direct democracy. So, from 21 to 27 September 2020 we will be heading to the worldwide hot bed of initiatives and referendums: Bern, the Capital City of Switzerland. This year’s Global Forum coincides with Switzerland’s 27 September national voting day and participants will have the unique opportunity to experience the final days of campaigning as well as the actual vote!

The 2020 Global Forum conference will offer an in-depth focus on five thematic tracks: Swiss direct democracy practice in a global context, Youth power in the times of climate change, Citizens’ Assemblies to support democracy, E-Voting and technology in modern democracy and Global direct democracy via tools for transnational citizens participation.

Now we need your input! We are still looking for people who want to organise a workshop or present an academic abstract covering one of the five tracks at the 2020 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy. You can send us your contribution until 15 March here.

We will also be looking at how we can improve democracy on a local level. On 26 September at the close of the Global Forum, Bern will host the ‘Democracy City Summit’. If your city would like to join the newly established International League of Democracy Cities, contact us at citysummit@2020globalforum.com.

Last but not least, we want to invite you to join our new online platform, the International Democracy Community at www.democracy.community.

We are looking forward to a new decade of democratic progress - and to seeing you in 200 days at the 2020 Global Forum in Bern, Switzerland.

Democratically yours,

Joe Mathews and Bruno Kaufmann

Board Members of Democracy International and Co-Presidents of the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy

Behind citizens' powerlessness: nostalgia, resentment and hope

With our eyes now turning towards Brussels and the upcoming launch of the Conference on the Future of Europe, attention and excitement are high. But so is the feeling of being powerless to influence EU politics among European citizens. Researcher Camille Dobler looks at what this means for EU legitimacy.

Read more here

Dealing with this complicated history, Peru‘s transition to democracy started 17 years ago. The constitution of the semi-presidential republic enshrines not only four direct-democratic instruments at the national level, but also two at the local level. At the Navigator to Direct Democracy symposium on “Political Culture and Active Citizenship” at the Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Arturo Maldonado, professor at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru, spoke with Democracy International about the use of these instruments at the local level and the current status of democracy in Peru.

Inching towards Independence: a bumpy road ahead for Bougainville

Last November, citizens in Bougainville voted to become independent of Papua New-Guinea, but to achieve this will not be easy. The crux of the problem? The Panguna mine, home to one of the largest copper reserves in the world.

Read more here

European Citizens' Initiative 2.0 - Join us!

It’s 2020 – which means the European Citizens’ Initiative 2.0 is here! On January 1, the new rules of the tool went into effect, making the world’s only tool of transnational participatory democracy more user-friendly and effective. Two events dedicated to the ECI are kicking-off the new phase of the ECI’s life.

Read more here

Do you trust your fellow citizens more than your leaders?

A Swiss experiment bringing together a group of citizens to prepare an informational sheet for February’s national vote has completed its first stage.

Read more here

Swiss roundly back protection against LGB discrimination

Voters in Switzerland have endorsed a proposed law to make it illegal to discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation. A challenge by conservatives clearly failed at the ballot box.

More info here