Three important reports by Freedom House, the Economist, and V-Dem, an institute associated with Sweden’s Gutenberg University, have found disturbing patterns associated with the state of democracy around the world last year. Research from all three reports suggests that autocracy, in the form of right-wing populism, has developed into a credible threat to democracy.
A democracy based on providing the “rights and liberties to all citizens” depends on a nexus of three crucial dimensions of democratic governance: checks and balances in governmental power; political norms that are accepted and practiced by all political actors; and institutions that are separate and independent on governmental influence.
The contemporary spiritual decay of the West appears due to the rise of an illiberal, populist and nationalist camp within the Western world. This shift is clear even in the European Union. Liberal democrats should find a new and attractive way for narrating their liberal vision of the future. A story about freedom, personal responsibility and rule of law, which will respond to the challenges of the 21st century as the decline of voter turnout, apathy of civil society or national chauvinism. For securing minimal standards of democracy in the EU, Czech Commissioner Věra Jourová was given a portfolio that would focus on the rule of law and include related issues such as fake news and hate speech.
The Institute for Politics and Society has long been interested in the topic of democracy as a concept and the real functioning of this type of regime in Europe (and in the world). Therefore, together with our speakers, we offer professional expertise in the Expert Forum on Democracy and Rule of Law in future Europe.
Program:
- Daniel Kaddik, Executive Director, European Liberal Forum
Introduction of the Expert Forum
- Valentin Kreilinger, Policy and Research Coordinator, European Liberal Forum
- Šárka Prát, Executive Director, Institute for Politics and Society, Prague
Welcome words from the Patron
- Moritz Korner, Member of the European Parliament, Renew Europe
Keynote Speech
- Ondřej Kovařík, Member of the European Parliament, Renew Europe
Break
State of Democracy
- Anna Shavit, Head of Department, Charles University, Prague
- Jacques Rupnik, Director of Research, CERI, National Foundation for Political
Sciences, Paris - Staffan Lindberg, Director, V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
Moderator:
- Karel Sál, Analyst, Institute for Politics and Society, Prague
Break
The Rule of Law in the EU
- Anna Donath, Member of the European Parliament, Renew Europe
- Kristina Arakelova, President, Youth for Democratic Engagement
- Laurent Pech, Professor of European Law, Middlesex University of London
- Nedim Hogic, Researcher in Anti-corruption, Scuola Superiore Sant Anna, Pisa
Moderator:
- Anas Zaza, External Analyst and Independent Researcher, Prague
Break
Fake News and Disinformation
- Anneli Ahonen, Head of East Stratcom Task Force, EEAS, Belgium
- Liubov Tsybulska, Strategic Communication Advisor, Hybrid Warfare Analytical Group, Ukraine
- Scott Griffen, Deputy Director, International Press Institute, Austria
- Péter Krekó, Executive Director, Political Capital, Budapest
Moderator:
- Roman Máca, Analyst, Institute for Politics and Society, Prague
Conclusions
- Magda Arsenyan and Tigran Gasparyan, Authors of the Democracy & Rule of Law chapter, Liberal White Book Europe 2030
End of Expert Forum
An online event organised by the European Liberal Forum asbl (ELF). Supported by the Institute for Politics and Society (IPPS). Co-funded by the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content of the programme, or for any use that may be made of it. The views expressed herein are those of the speaker(s) alone. These views do not necessarily reflect those of the European Parliament and/or the European Liberal Forum asbl.