27th Forum 2000 Conference

Democracy is under attack. From the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the rise of extreme right or left populist leaders, from the increase of food and energy prices to the dissemination of disinformation, the legitimization of authoritarian regimes or polarization of democratic societies, all pose a threat to the future of democracy. While Western democracies have shown that they can stand together in times of war, many other countries seem to be standing aside. Authoritarian regimes are actively pursuing the goal of an alternative world order, establishing new alliances or growing existing initiatives like BRICS, while democracies are still trying to make sense of the Summit for Democracy. What can we expect from the democratic world in facing these mounting challenges? Can the global democratic partners find a way to stand shoulder to shoulder in defending the shared values of freedom and human dignity? How can we strengthen the global rules-based order?

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz has proclaimed a "turn of the times" after the start of Russia's offensive. But is Europe really ready to rise to the challenge posed by Russian neo-imperialism and put its resources on the line to ensure that Ukraine can win this war? To what extent does the EU understand Ukraine's struggle as its own cause? Will the war lead to new dividing lines in the EU or is Europe moving closer towards a common security policy? How does the war change the EU's enlargement policy with respect to Ukraine and other candidate countries?

Inspiring stories of brave democrats and human rights defenders from around the world. In this format, speakers have the opportunity to share their life stories in a concise and engaging 10-minute presentation. The storytelling should highlight personal experiences and integrate aspects related to their advocacy for human rights and democracy. Throughout the presentation, speakers are standing or may walk around the stage.

Autocratic powers such as China, Russia, and Iran are joining forces like never before. Anne Applebaum aptly refers to this collective autocratic influence as "Autocracy, Inc." In contrast, cooperative initiatives by democratic governments, like the Summit for Democracy and the Community of Democracies, have limited impact and stumble over mobilizing the necessary political and financial resources. How can civil society organizations rally international solidarity, particularly in cases like Taiwan where the threat to its survival is met with relative complacency? Moreover, how can international non-governmental democracy groups, such as Forum 2000, enhance collaboration to raise awareness and mobilize support? How can we tackle crises in places like Taiwan, Burma, and Iran without diverting attention from other under-acknowledged struggles?

Over the last decade, the dynamics of the Western Balkans’ EU integration have stalled, and the credibility of the EU accession perspective has suffered significant damage in the region. Recently the European Commission has presented a plan that seeks to align the Western Balkans with the EU’s single market, deepen regional economic integration, accelerate judicial and anti-corruption reforms, and boost pre-accession funding. Will these efforts be enough to revitalize the EU accession enthusiasm in the region? Does Western Balkans civil society feel engaged in the process to take a role in disseminating such a narrative?

The discourse on artificial intelligence is dominated by rallying cries which portray it as a very serious threat to democracy, while others regard AI as a cure for the shortcomings of representative will formation. There is a concern regarding malicious actors who exploit these technologies to manipulate public opinion on a large scale, and the changing relationship between public and private entities, raising concerns about the growing influence of private corporations in political matters. The intertwined effects of manipulable public discourse and fortified private powers create a vicious cycle that exacerbates the deficiencies observed in today's digital public spheres. Alternatively, there is hope that users can creatively appropriate AI applications, utilizing their democratic potential to create more inclusive and empowering public spaces. What are the key aspects of AI policy makers should take into account? How can civil society take part in the regulatory discussion not to hinder AI development while preventing its threats to democracy?

As we saw during this year's Forum 2000 conference, the challenges ahead for democracy are tremendous. Despite the wonderful unity, achieved across the democratic world vis-a-vis the Russian aggression, we can already see obstacles and cracks shaping on the horizon. What are the main challenges ahead of us? How do we ensure that these - so far manageable - problems do not spiral out of control? What can we do better? As the challenges we are facing, are global, how to ensure that the cooperation for democracy is truly global as well? How can the different actors - civil society, parliaments, or even business - contribute to this global democratic cooperation?