The first Civitates’ Forum in March in Bruges was a hothouse of inspiring ideas and arresting insights from the 150 people who attended, all of whom are working to protect democracy across Europe in various ways.
One participant’s comment resonated deeply: that trying to sell the current model of democracy can feel like “reheating a frozen dish people did not want in the first place.”
It’s an observation backed up by data.
An IPSOS survey last year of almost 10,000 people found that satisfaction with democracy was below 50% in eight out of the nine western countries polled (Croatia, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, the UK and the US – with only Sweden bucking the trend). Meanwhile, a recent study found that in France and Spain only half of young people believed democracy is the best form of government.
Alongside people’s growing cynicism towards the democratic process, is the distance many feel from democratic institutions, and even the organisations defending them.
Defending democracy is essential, but inadequate in the face of such weary disenchantment. People need an attractive and credible vision for how democracy can work. They need to see in practice how it can improve their lives.
Our new #DemocracyFutures initiative will explore ways to make this happen.
The goal is not to present a rigid blueprint, but to listen and have a shared conversation to find ways to offer people meaningful reasons to believe in the future of European democracy.
Why this conversation matters now
This disengagement with democracy is unfolding against a backdrop of converging threats: climate breakdown, the hold opaque algorithms designed by unaccountable Big Tech have over us, soaring living costs, and ‘the greatest global energy crisis in history’, among them.
Understandably, civil society and public interest media are often overwhelmed by reacting to the immediate crises arising from these threats. But putting out fires continuously impedes longer-term thinking. So as well as acting urgently today, we need to prepare for tomorrow. We must shape change, rather than just respond to it, and support those who are reinventing and reimagining democracy, so that it responds better to people’s needs and hopes. That means, among other things, investing in innovation and in organisations’ security, capacity and resilience so that they can think and act boldly.
#DemocracyFutures aims to reflect the collective wisdom of civil society, independent media and foundations.
The genesis for this conversation, and how it might work, emerged at the Civitates Forum.
The candid discussions and shared stories gave a rich, cohesive picture of Europe’s current faltering democratic landscape, and the strains those working to protect it face. The insights were deepened through the diversity of the perspectives – from frontline democracy defenders, funders, journalists, digital rights activists and others. Experts from civil society, media and philanthropy acted as dedicated “sense makers”, helping to identify patterns, tensions and issues that might otherwise have remained unspoken.
They also threw themselves into problem-solving: diving into what could be changed, protected or rebuilt, rather than giving in to resignation, while exploring future scenarios.
Overall, the Forum illustrated the imagination, resilience and commitment that defines the Civitates’ community.
The future is unwritten
We need to do things differently because what has worked in the past is not going to work in the future. Times have changed. Defenders of democracy and those funding it need the courage to experiment, work outside their familiar circles, back new ideas and amplify what works. Innovation requires flexible and sustained support.
Democracy needs a story people can believe in. Democratic values must connect with people’s experiences, hopes and aspirations.
Renewal requires the courage to question what isn’t working and imagine how democracy could better meet people’s needs.
As such, we are inviting our partners and the broader community to join our #DemocracyFutures conversation: to engage with its ideas, challenge assumptions and contribute their own perspectives.
Civitates is not seeking agreement around one ideal future. Instead, we want to help expand the horizons of what is possible, to prepare for the challenges ahead and build together.
Europe’s democratic future remains open. The work of shaping it starts with what we do today.
