Democracy’s Clear and Present Danger: How Do We Respond?

The determination of Ukraine and Ukrainian citizens to join the EU has been steady, and is even growing. The current Russian aggression was caused, among other things, by this pro-European drive in Ukraine. It is of utmost importance for the West to have a viable and concrete vision for a future Ukraine’s EU membership - a vision for the future success of Ukraine. It goes without saying that both Ukraine and the EU must still make significant efforts in order to achieve this historical geopolitical goal. Why is the European perspective important for Ukraine? Are both Ukraine and the EU ready? What are the tasks, reforms, and efforts that both sides need to work on?

The post-war reconstruction of Ukraine and the West's key role in this process represent a unique opportunity for both sides. While the Ukrainian economy and society might feel a new impulse to fast-track modernization and development, reconstruction will also provide benefits and incentives for European economies and businesses. However, there are numerous potential risks and challenges on both sides that could eventually reduce all such benefits and could even lead to mutual mistrust. What are the plans and ideas of the international community for the post-war reconstruction? What are the major challenges on both sides that need to be tackled in order to make the reconstruction a success?

The Russian invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign and independent democratic state, threatens not just the survival of Ukraine and the security of Europe, but the norms that underpin the rules-based global order. In its struggle for survival, therefore, Ukraine is also defending universal democratic norms and international law. The challenge before us now is to build global democratic unity and solidarity. Ukraine deserves the support of the world’s democracies, not just in Europe and North America but throughout the Global South. How we meet this challenge will determine the future of democracy and peace in this new era.

Ukraine has received a great deal of democracy support over the years, but the invasion is likely to require a major change in such support. - What are the main challenges for the future of Ukrainian democracy? What kinds of new and reshaped democracy support will now be required in and for Ukraine?

On March 23, 2022, Madeleine K. Albright, diplomat, politician, author, United States Secretary of State, and National Democratic Institute founder and chair, passed away. Forum 2000, Václav Havel Library, and National Democratic Institute invite you to commemorate and celebrate her personality and her passion for freedom, democracy, human rights and gender equality, symbolically in the town where she was born and that she loved throughout her life. What did Madeleine K. Albright contribute to the transatlantic relationship? What is her political legacy? How is it followed by current female political leaders?

Since ancient Greece, free speech has been the cornerstone of self-governing societies. Without it, there is no democracy. But, as we have recently seen with the new media law in Poland, the use of misinformation, via both traditional media and social networks, by authoritarian powers, or in the recent cancel culture wave at university campuses, free speech is both under pressure and being abused. As the public space is being democratized and increasingly exposed to potential abusers, is widespread censorship the inevitable future? Can free speech have limits and still be “free” ? How can we protect free speech?

The free world has a major stake in a secure, sovereign, and democratic Ukraine. The defeat of Russia’s aggression is a precondition for a safe Europe and a safe and strong global democratic community. The heroic Ukrainian resistance has generated a massive wave of solidarity. The transatlantic and global alliance of democracies has united in providing Ukraine with military assistance, humanitarian aid, and medical support. To make sure that the struggle of the Ukrainian people is a success, however, much more is needed.

The People's Republic of China under Xi Jinping has repeatedly threatened to invade Taiwan, just as Russia has done to Ukraine. The visit of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan triggered a PRC military blockade of the island. Taiwan is a democratic country and it is clear that international peace and security, as well as the cause of democracy, would be gravely injured if Beijing attacked and absorbed it. How can the world's democracies and global civil society deter such aggression and protect Taiwan's democracy?

In the context of the Russian aggression, several interesting studies and proposals regarding the process of EU integration have appeared and have attracted attention. CEPS published a study on a phased integration; the European Council on Foreign Relations published the concept of partnership for integration; and the idea of opening the internal market during the accession process was published by the European Stability Initiative. The European Commission canceled tariffs and quotas for Ukraine for one year and applied similar measures to Moldova. Should there be an opening of the internal market for candidate countries even before they join the EU? What benefits and limitations would such a move bring? What potential problems would countries run into? What can the Czech Presidency do in this matter? What horizons of this process are realistic?