Recovering the Promise of 1989

23rd Forum 2000 Conference

Festival of Democracy 


"These structures (of the civil society) should naturally arise from below as a consequence of authentic social self-organization; they should derive vital energy from a living dialogue with the genuine needs from which they arise, and when these needs are gone, the structures should also disappear. The principles of their internal organization should be very diverse, with a minimum of external regulation. The decisive criterion of this self-constitution should be the structure's actual significance, and not just a mere abstract norm.“

— Power of the Powerless, Václav Havel, 1979 —


The Festival of Democracy is the associated program of the Forum 2000 Conference. Our mission is to celebrate civic action as the cornerstone of a free and democratic society. We want to inspire public discussion about citizens’ shared responsibility for society, about tolerance and respect for human rights, about the world we want to live in and about democracy. We want to encourage contemplation of the challenges the future will bring.

The Festival of Democracy offers lectures, discussions, exhibitions, screenings and other activities that complement and further develop the themes of the conference. The Festival of Democracy cooperates with NGOs, universities and many other partners of the Forum 2000 Foundation and offers them a possibility to present civic society activities and reflect on issues being discussed at the conference from different angles.