30th Forum 2000 Conference

Prague | October 11–13, 2026

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Video Recordings

Sunday, October 11

Opening Evening & Forum 2000 International Award for Courage and Responsibility Ceremony

MODERATOR

  • Ivana Štefková, Member, Board of Directors, Forum 2000 Foundation, Czechia

REMARKS

  • Miloš Vystrčil, President, Senate of the Parliament, Czechia
  • Chan, Founding Member of Women Alliance Burma, Myanmar
  • Stan, Secretary of the Anti-Junta Forces Coordination Committee Mandalay (AFCC), Myanmar
  • Bhone Thit, Former Political Prisoner & Democracy Activist from University Students' Unions Alumni Force (USUAF), Myanmar
  • Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Head, United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, Belarus/Lithuania

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

  • Mário Bihári, Artist, Slovakia/Czechia

Monday, October 12

Opening Plenary Session

OPENING REMARKS

  • Jakub Klepal, Executive Director, Forum 2000 Foundation, Czechia

REMARKS

  • Petr Pavel, President, Czechia
  • George W. Bush, Former President, USA
  • Kim Aris, Activist; Son of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar/UK

Opening Panel | Václav Havel's Courage of the Powerless

"Individuals confirm the system, fulfill the system, make the system, are the system." In The Power of the Powerless, Václav Havel exposed how individual moral choices can shatter totalitarian control. Today, democratic societies face new threats from digital manipulation, polarization, and eroding civic trust, making his legacy more urgent than ever. What does the "power of the powerless" mean in a world increasingly shaped by power politics? Where is the line between systemic compliance and moral integrity today? What can be done to apply Havel’s concept of civic responsibility to defend contemporary democracy?

MODERATOR

  • Vesna Pusić, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs; Member, Program Council, Forum 2000 Foundation, Croatia

SPEAKERS

  • Tawakkol Karman, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; Founder, Women Journalists Without Chains & Tawakkol Karman Foundation; Member, International Coalition for Democratic Renewal, Yemen
  • Larry Diamond, Senior Fellow, Stanford University; Member, International Coalition for Democratic Renewal, USA
  • Michael Žantovský, Senior Fellow, Prague Center for Transatlantic Relations; Member, Program Council, Forum 2000 Foundation, Czechia
  • Adam Michnik, Member, International Advisory Board, Forum 2000 Foundation, Poland

Watch remarks and video messages from speakers contributing their perspectives to the conference.

Remarks
Petr Pavel, President, Czechia

Remarks
George W. Bush, Former President, USA

Video Message
Hassan bin Talal, Chairman, West Asia-North Africa Forum; Member, International Advisory Board, Forum 2000 Foundation, Jordan

Video Message
Adam Michnik, Member, International Advisory Board, Forum 2000 Foundation, Poland

Discussion | The Era of the Global Dis-Order: Democracy Disrupted?

In cooperation with the European Democracy Hub.

The presidency of Donald Trump raised fundamental questions about the role of democracy in international affairs. For decades, democratic values and cooperation among democratic states were widely understood as central pillars of the international order—shaping alliances, informing multilateralism, and underpinning the foreign policy of the United States and its partners. The Trump era disrupted many of these assumptions. It challenged the reliability of long-standing alliances, blurred the distinction between values and interests, and introduced a more transactional approach to international cooperation. At the same time, it coincided with a broader global trend of democratic backsliding, the rise of authoritarian influence, and increasing skepticism toward liberal internationalism. How may this period reshape the role of democracy in international relations in the years ahead? Will democracy remain a guiding principle of global cooperation or evolve into a more contested and instrumental concept?

MODERATOR

  • Richard Youngs, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Europe; Member, Program Council, Forum 2000 Foundation, UK/Spain

SPEAKERS

  • Roukaya Kasenally, Associate Professor, University of Mauritius; Chair, Steering Committee, Democratic Solidarity Africa, Mauritius
  • Ghia Nodia, Chair, Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development; Member, International Coalition for Democratic Renewal, Georgia
  • Tomoyuki Yoshida, Chief Executive Director, The Japan Institute of International Affairs, Japan
  • Jamie Fly, Chief Executive Officer, Freedom House; Member, Program Council, Forum 2000 Foundation, USA

Discussion | Irreplaceable: The Case for the Transatlantic Partnership in an Age of Great Power Competition

In cooperation with Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) and ICDR Transatlantic Working Group.

While high-level political friction often dominates the headlines, the strategic and economic necessity of the transatlantic bond remains absolute. This session moves beyond the current diplomatic volatility to examine the costs of drifting apart — a scenario that would leave both sides vulnerable in an era of systemic rivalry. Recognizing that the overwhelming majority of citizens on both sides of the Atlantic continue to favor strong cooperation, the panel will focus on the enduring foundations that persist even when executive-level relations are strained. The discussion will push participants to move past the noise at the top and ask harder questions: What do we actually stand to lose if the partnership fractures? How can non-governmental actors step in when political channels fail? And crucially — can a bottom-up transatlantic relationship, rooted in civil society, business, and people-to-people ties, prove more durable than one dependent on the goodwill of any single administration?  

MODERATOR

  • Alexandr Vondra, Member, European Parliament; Member, Board of Directors, Forum 2000 Foundation, Czechia

SPEAKERS

  • Roderich Kiesewetter, Member, Bundestag, Germany
  • Christopher Walker, Vice President, CEPA; Member, Program Council, Forum 2000 Foundation, USA
  • Dalia Grybauskaitė, Former President, Lithuania

Discussion | When Faith Becomes Political: Defending Freedom in an Age of Authoritarianism

In cooperation with Community of Democracies.

Religious freedom is one of the fundamental human rights, and its defense has historically contributed to the process of democratization and reconciliation in many unfree societies. Religion remains a victim of oppression in many non-democratic countries. In many democratic societies, however, it is also increasingly exploited by populist and radical political movements, which attempt to exploit religious identity for their own political gain. How are these contradicting trends manifesting themselves in current politics? To what extent does contemporary religious nationalism pose a threat to the very foundation of liberal democracy? How can we strengthen the role of religion in the fight for freedom and democracy while preventing its misuse?

MODERATOR

SPEAKERS

  • Penpa Tsering, Sikyong, Central Tibetan Administration, Tibet/India
  • Grace Davie, Emeritus Professor, University of Exeter, UK
  • His Beatitude Epiphanius I of Ukraine, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Ukraine
  • Massimo Faggioli, Professor of Historical Theology, Villanova University, Italy/USA

Discussion | Europe as a Power: Strategic Autonomy or Strategic Illusion?

In cooperation with the Institute for Politics and Society.

Strategic autonomy has become Europe’s defining ambition. Defence readiness, energy security, industrial capacity, supply chain resilience, health sovereignty, and technology sovereignty now determine whether Europe can protect its interests, uphold democratic values, and act credibly as global politics shifts toward harder, more transactional power. What does strategic autonomy mean in practice? Is it a realistic objective or a political aspiration? How can the EU strengthen its defence, energy, industrial, and technological capabilities while remaining open, competitive, and closely aligned with its allies?

MODERATOR

  • Šárka Shoup, Director, Institute for Politics and Society, Czechia

SPEAKERS

  • Adam Vojtěch, Minister of Health, Czechia
  • Nacho Sánchez Amor, Member, European Parliament, Spain
  • Reinis Pozņaks, Member, European Parliament, Latvia
  • Fredrik Wesslau, Senior Policy Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations; Member, Program Council, Forum 2000 Foundation, Sweden

Discussion | Small States and Middle Powers in a Multipolar World

Of the 193 UN member states, only about 13 are classified as large countries; the rest are medium-sized or small. Until recently, both relied on international law, courts, and multilateral institutions for protection, a framework that is now eroding as the great powers pursue politics of domination rather than partnership. In today’s global reality, small states and middle powers must redefine their place and role, and seek to protect their independence through new forms of cooperation and alignment. Can they become a patchwork of nodes supporting political freedom and high civic standards, or will they be overwhelmed by great powers and their “spheres of influence”? What options are left to them in a world where international law is no longer respected, and political equality has been eroded?

MODERATOR

  • Vesna Pusić, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs; Member, Program Council, Forum 2000 Foundation, Croatia

SPEAKERS

  • Ian Khama, Former President, Botswana
  • Milo Đukanović, Former President, Montenegro
  • Armen Valerii Grigoryan, Former Secretary, Security Council, Armenia
  • Luis Almagro, Director, Democracy Observatory, Casla Institute; Former Secretary General, Organization of American States, Uruguay/USA

Tuesday, October 13

Discussion | Pending Transitions in Latin America

In cooperation with the Casla Institute.

Latin America’s authoritarian regimes have proven remarkably resilient, sustained by repression, control over institutions, illicit economies, external alliances, fragmented opposition movements, and the political use of migration, poverty and fear. Yet the region may now be entering a new moment. Growing social fatigue, leadership changes, renewed regional attention, international pressure and the persistence of democratic actors inside and outside these countries are creating openings that should not be missed. What conditions could make transition more likely? How can regional and international actors support democratic alternatives? And what must be prepared now to ensure that future transitions are peaceful, credible and sustainable?

MODERATOR

  • Luis Almagro, Director, Democracy Observatory, Casla Institute; Former Secretary General, Organization of American States, Uruguay/USA

SPEAKERS

  • Lech Wałęsa, Former President, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Poland
  • Pedro Urruchurtu, Director, International Relations, Office of Maria Corina Machado; Member, Democratic Solidarity Latin America, Venezuela/USA
  • Tamara Dávila, Member, Executive Committee and National Board, Unamos, Nicaragua/Spain
  • Álvaro Uribe Vélez, Former President, Colombia

Discussion | Populistocracy? Price Elasticity of Democratic Principles

The inability of democratic institutions to effectively address accumulated crises has created conditions for the rise of populism, transforming liberal democracy into an increasingly illiberal order, or populistocracy. Research shows that while citizens strongly support free elections, their commitment to liberal principles such as judicial independence, media freedom, and institutional accountability is more flexible. Evidence suggests that many citizens are willing to sacrifice these principles for modest economic gains, facilitating democratic erosion and creeping authoritarianism. This shift reflects a broader transition from rational, value-based politics to emotion-driven semantic politics, fueled by economic insecurity, inequality, distrust, and disinformation. How does citizens’ willingness to trade liberal democratic principles for economic benefits contribute to the rise of illiberal democracy and populistocracy? What role do economic uncertainty, structural inequalities, institutional distrust, and disinformation play in transforming liberal democracies into illiberal political systems? How does the shift from value-based and rational politics to semantic politics influence public support for democratic institutions and liberal norms?  

MODERATOR

  • Christopher Walker, Vice President, CEPA; Member, Program Council, Forum 2000 Foundation, USA

SPEAKERS

  • Iveta Radičová, Sociologist; Former Prime Minister; Member, International Advisory Board, Forum 2000 Foundation, Slovakia
  • Larry Diamond, Senior Fellow, Stanford University; Member, International Coalition for Democratic Renewal, USA
  • Martin Kupka, Chair, Civic Democratic Party; Member, Chamber of Deputies, Czechia

Havel Conversation | Democracy in the Age of AI

Today, the question is no longer if AI will change democracy — it already is. It reshapes how citizens get information, how elections are contested, and how power concentrates between states, platforms, and frontier labs. Some of this strengthens democratic societies, much of it puts real pressure on the institutions built to sustain them. What should democracies do to protect freedom and citizen agency? What belongs at the national level, and what requires international coordination? What should governments, civil society, and business each do to help democracy not just survive the AI age, but thrive in it?

MODERATOR

  • Robert Guest, Deputy Editor, The Economist, UK

SPEAKER

  • Yuval Noah Harari, Author, Historian, Co-Founder of Sapienship, Distinguished Research Fellow at Cambridge University, Israel/UK

Closing Panel | The Next 30

At the opening session of the first Forum 2000 Conference, on October 4, 1997, Elie Wiesel asked the participants "to bring our collective sense of commitment and our inevitable but necessary hope.“ Commitment, responsibility, and hope. Key words with which Havel and Wiesel started the journey of the Forum 2000. A journey, which continues today, in a very different world, where democracy is challenged, the security of the free nations is threatened, and humankind itself is potentially risking its future through human-made technological progress. So, being guided by Havel's and Wiesel's legacy, what should we dedicate our shared commitment to now, in 2026, as we look towards the next decades? What are the key challenges that require our attention?

MODERATOR

  • Šimon Pánek, Executive Director, People in Need; Member, International Advisory Board, Forum 2000 Foundation, Czechia

SPEAKERS

  • Luis Abinader, President, Dominican Republic
  • Benedetta Berti, Secretary General, Parliamentary Assembly, NATO; Member, Program Council, Forum 2000 Foundation, Italy/Belgium
  • Carl Gershman, Founding President, National Endowment for Democracy; Member, Program Council, Forum 2000 Foundation, USA