As democracy stagnates in many countries, and direct democracy suffers from lack of support, Taiwan has taken historic steps to move forward. The island nation in East Asia’s new Referendum law, less than two years old, is considered a global model for initiative and referendum. But how is it working in practice? What are the lessons of the first years of modern direct democracy in the new powerhouse of citizens participation? What is happening across East and South Asia and the West Pacific? The Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy is heading to the ´beautiful island´- or ´Formosa´ as called by the Portuguese - to find out. You are invited to Taichung, Taiwan’s second most populous city, for the 2019 Global Forum, October 2-5, 2019.
At the Global Forum we will treat the following topics in a diverse line-up of panels, sessions and workshops:
- How to move from people power movements to direct democracy institutions
- Lessons learned regarding Taiwan's renewed referendum experience
- Best practices in direct democracy and citizen participation
When? 2-5 October 2019
Where? National Chung Hsing University, No. 145號, Xingda Road, South District, Taichung City, Taiwan
Read the programme here
Watch the livestream from the Forum here.
Optional Pre-forum Briefing Tour of Taiwan:
Ahead of the 2019 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy, we are organising an optional pre-forum briefing tour for interested participants of the Global Forum.This briefing tour features a train between Taipei and Kaohsiung especially arranged for our participants. The train will make several stops along the Taiwanese West coast in places key to democracy: Wanhua, Jongli, Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi and Tainan.
Separate registration for the briefing tour is mandatory. More info on the briefing tour can be found here.
When? 30 September - 2 October 2019
Where? Taipei & Taichung, Taiwan
Register for the pre-tour by writing to info@2019globalforum.com.
