The most accessible Global Forum ever

Around the world, people and organizations are adjusting their plans because of the unprecedented health crisis. The Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy is no exception.

We want you to know that we are changing plans in two ways. We hope you will mark your calendars.

First, we postponed our 2020 Global Forum in Bern until next spring. We hope you can make plans to join us April 28-May 1, 2021, in the Swiss capital. You can register now and learn more details here, at the 2021 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy.

Second, we can’t wait until next spring to talk, so, to address urgent questions of democracy during the pandemic, we are holding an Online Forum on Modern Direct Democracy this fall. Please join us September 21-29 2020.

This Online Forum, like all our Global Forums, will be free and open to all. We hope that this new digital format will also make it the most accessible Forum we have ever organised. Since 2008, the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy has strived to gather people from different backgrounds to share their ideas, knowledge, and experience about democracy. And this year, you can join from the comfort of your own home. Please don’t miss it — register now.

Democratically yours,

Bruno Kaufmann and Joe Mathews
Co-presidents, Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy

Upcoming events from our community

Online Forum on Modern Direct Democracy:
21-29 September 2020, 14.00-22.00 CET, Online. More information
2021 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy:
28 April - 1 May 2021, 09.00-18.30 CET, Bern, Switzerland. More information

In short

Sax it up!
Our Crowdfunding campaign to get our European Public Sphere to Saxony raised over 10.000 euros, meaning we'll be heading there next spring! You can decide which towns we visit, let Anne know on hardt@democracy-international.org.
European Public Sphere goes online:
Join our Europe 2.0 open laboratory for Europe’s future! In 10 online conversations, young Europeans up to 27 will develop new approaches, collect visions and solutions for Europe’s future in solidarity - more info.
Abstimmung21:
Together with partners, we're organising the first-ever nation-wide vote on issues in Germany. Unofficially of course, because there is no Citizens' Initiative on the federal level in Germany. Read more here.
Lobby transparency:
Together with LobbyControl, we're calling for a mandatory lobby register for the German government and parliament. Support the call and sign here.
EXCEPTIUS:
EXCEPTIUS, a research project we are supporting will look at exceptional decision-making during Covid-19, thereby evaluating democratic resilience in 32 European countries.

Seven lessons from the Corona-crisis: Interview with Tamara Ehs

In her new book, Tamara Ehs focuses on the Austrian democracy during the Covid-19 crisis, providing 7 lessons we should all keep in mind to avoid the backsliding of direct democracy.

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.

French Citizens want a referendum on climate measures

A survey shows that 81% of French adults are in favor of submitting the most important proposals made by the recent Citizens’ Convention on Climate in France to a Referendum.

Read more here

Democracy in crisis: Challenges and Recommendations

Our discussion series on democracy and the Covid-19 pandemic has come to a close. Based on these conversations, we drafted a set of challenges and recommendations to make our democracy more resilient in times of crisis.

Read more here

Transnational instruments for transnational issues: The Fridays for Future ECI

We spoke to the organisers of the Fridays for Future European Citizens' Initiative on the need for EU-wide action on climate change and the impact of the Corona-virus crisis on their campaign.

Read more here

How referendums have shaped the European project

Switzerland is not the only nation with a history of holding votes on Europe. Over the past half-century, voters in almost 30 countries have been asked over 60 times to say yes or no to “more” Europe. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to establish a pan-European referendum process.

More info here