(Please note this event is in-person only)

Introduction:

Europe is currently in a period of transition. The ongoing post-industrial economic and technological transformation are weakening our established societal and political structures. Meanwhile, key 21st-century challenges including climate change, economic inequality, and authoritarian pressures are creating instability across the continent, manifesting as growing political distrust, polarization and extremism. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has initiated a new phase in the discourse on the value of democracy – and why we have to work very hard to have democratic futures for our societies.

The Event:

Democracy for the next era event combines the bird’s eye view with the grassroots initiatives to support democracies in realising societal transformations. The event celebrates the launch of the scenario report on the future of liberal democracy. The scenario work is a part of Tackling Biases and Bubbles in Participation -project, led by the University of Helsinki and funded by the Strategic Research Council by the Academy of Finland (2017-2022).

Agenda:

16.00 — Arrival & welcome

16.10 — Introduction to the theme and the organisations

16.20 — Opening speeches

- Aleksi Neuvonen / Demos Helsinki: "The Future of Democracy and Welfare in a Transforming Europe"

- Anthony Zacharzewski / the Democratic Society: "Not a project, a way of life"

16.50— Panel discussion: "How to combine urgency with democracy?" + Q&A (Panelists confirmed: Veera Heinonen (Director, Communications and Public Affairs at Finnish Innovation Fund, Sitra, and Iiris Suomela (Member of Parliament, City Councillor, Vice-Chairman of the Green Party).

17.30 — A brief intro on the upcoming project TANDEM (Transdisciplinary and Deliberative equity appraisal of transition policies in Energy and Mobility)

17.40 — 18.00 Closing words & informal discussion

18.00 - event closes