Lessons from the Conference on the Future of Europe: The EU must embark on a path to treaty change and a new European Convention
The Conference on the Future of Europe was launched on Europe Day, May 9, 2021 with plenty of political assurances from the EU about reinvigorating European democracy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen avowed to launch a politically inclusive Conference which...
Welcome Back: Ukrainian Vibes – European Public Sphere
For the further development of Europe and European civic rights, we are highly dependent on the functioning of Europe's hallmark: democracy. In a democracy we are always stronger together than alone. Exchanging our opinions and understanding each other is the only way to...
Might this month’s French elections be the prelude to another French Revolution?
The problems with these dismal elections are many—low turnout, moribund public debate, the popularity of politicians running as Putinist populists, and an uninspiring incumbent president, Emmanuel Macron. But at the heart of the French democratic recession is a void where local...
A referendum? The case of Belarus
When people talk about referendums, it is often assumed that it is a process that serves democracy; people can have a say and decisions are made in the interests of the people. According to the Direct Democracy Navigator, a referendum is a popular vote that takes place bottom-up...
Despite sufficient signatures - Why referendums can fail
Italy's Constitutional Court on Tuesday blocked an attempt to hold a referendum on euthanasia, transferring responsibility for legislation to national lawmakers who have long struggled to reach agreement on the right to euthanasia. The referendum on legalising the cultivation of...
Parliamentarians from around the globe call for UN reform
Over 120 members of parliament from over 40 countries have lent their support to our ongoing We The Peoples campaign. In a statement released on 26 January 2022, they are backing the call for three institutional changes to the United Nations (UN) to strengthen its democratic...
A deep dive into democratic institutions: 'Rules of the Game'
Every two weeks the political economic Stephan Kyburz publishes an exciting episode of his podcast ‘Rules of the Game - discussing democratic institutions’ on a highly interesting, political topic. In the future, our newsletter will always include a...
Wishes, Plans and Goals: Democracy International 2022
After Democracy International celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2021, we are now setting sail for another decade. Motivated and with a lot of confidence, we start the new year with many wishes, plans and goals.
By Josephine Schnee
Democracy despite crisis
Clara Egger is a professor of international relations at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, focusing on the role of citizens and their power in contemporary democracy.
In addition to this work, Egger is also leader of the EXCEPTIUS project, which analyses...
Good governance goes hand in hand with democratic renewal: the case of Bulgaria
Corruption has reigned over Bulgaria for a long time which has made society vulnerable and reduced its political trust. We talked with Daniela Bozhinova, board member at Democracy International e.V. and chairperson of the Bulgarian Association for the Promotion of Citizens...