Geneva Democracy Dialogue: What does democracy mean to you?

• When: 9 October 2024, 18:15 - 20:00 
• Where: Room S8 (Petal 1-2, Level 1), Maison de la Paix, Geneva Graduate Institute
• Language: English
• In-person event (no livestreaming)

BACKGROUND 

The second Geneva Democracy Dialogue on 9 October 2024 (18:15 - 20:00 CEST) will explore the question: What does democracy mean to you?

The Geneva Democracy Dialogues are designed to facilitate open, inclusive, and informed discussions on challenges for democracy, foster collaboration and innovation, and generate actionable recommendations.

They are a part of the wider 3-year programme of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation on “Revitalising Democracy Across Europe and the Wider World”, including its Caux Democracy Forum in July 2024. 

ABOUT THE EVENT 

The Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation, the Kofi Annan Foundation, and the Graduate Institute's Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy collaborate to host the second Geneva Democracy Dialogue as part of the Geneva Democracy Week.

This event will focus on the various narratives of democracy that are used and understood across generations. Participants will engage with this theme by exploring a central question: What does democracy mean to you as well as to your work and engagement?

They will discuss how narratives of democracy are mobilised, explicitly or not, when engaging on issues such as climate change, peace, and social inequalities. 

The conversation will start with a few short thematic interventions that will serve as “discussion starters”. These will then be discussed with participants from international organisations, diplomatic missions, academia, civil society and the public.

As space is limited, places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please note that this event is in-person and will not be livestreamed.

PROGRAMME

17.45 – 18.15 Networking apéritif (Hall Interpétale, Petal 1-2, Level 1)

18.15 – 18.25 Welcome

• Welcome remarks by CHRISTINE LUTRINGER, Executive Director, Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, Graduate Institute and DECLAN O'BRIEN, Head of Democracy and Multilateralism Programmes, Kofi Annan Foundation

18.25 – 19.40  Core discussion

• Moderated by IGNACIO PACKER, Executive Director, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation

Guest discussants will serve as conversation starters and will focus on:

• Short video with different perspectives on democracy
• What the research shows us on youth participation, with: YANINA WELP, Research Fellow, Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, Graduate Institute
• Youth perspective on democracy, with: MARTIN BOGOMILOV PENOV, 23-year-old Bulgarian and Vice-President of the Young European Federalists
• Pathways for democratic principles to eventually reemerge, with: H.E. AMBASSADOR NASIR AHMAD ANDISHA, Permanent  Representative to UN from Afghanistan
• Civil society perspectives on intergenerational aspects on Democracy, with: DECLAN O'BRIEN, Head, Democracy, Kofi Annan Foundation

19.45 – 20.00 Wrap-up and Next Steps

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