Across the world, democratic institutions are under pressure. Autocratic leaders are on the rise, civic liberties are eroded and the judiciary and the media are curtailed. According to Freedom House the struggle for democracy may be approaching a turning point. The gap between the number of countries that registered overall improvements in political rights and civil liberties and those that registered overall declines for 2022 was the narrowest it has ever been through 17 years of global deterioration.

On the Community day of the strategic theme Institutions for Open Societies (IOS), we aim to face these challenges. What is the future of democracy? How can we reinvigorate formal and informal rules, organisations and networks to safeguard and strengthen democratisation? We cordially invite you to ponder and engage in discussions on these pivotal questions, which lie at the heart of IOS.

Anticipate an inspiring programme that will give centre stage to democratisation across various levels – neighbourhood, region, national, European, and global – as well as from different institutional perspectives. Each of our fifteen IOS Platforms will lend their unique angle and expertise to engage with the theme of democratisation as broadly as possible. Thus, the Community Day is also an excellent way to become better acquainted with Institutions for Open Societies and its Platforms.

The day will be opened by Prof. Henk Kummeling, who, in addition to his role as the Rector of Utrecht University, also functions as the chair of the Dutch State Commission on the Rule of Law. This commission is currently investigating how the constitutional state can be strengthened, with a particular focus on safeguarding citizen rights. Prof. Kummeling addresses this topic in his talk on ‘Democracy and the Rule of Law: the Citizen in the Squeeze’.

After this opening, we are honoured to host Matthew Flinders, Professor of Politics and Founding Director of the Sir Bernard Crick Centre at the University of Sheffield, as our keynote speaker. In a provocative lecture titled ‘The Future of Democracy: Populism, Pandemics and Positivity’, Prof. Flinders will examine the current debate about the future of democracy, kicking off a lively and fruitful discussion.

Next, we give the floor to our community; all IOS platforms will break out to explore the future of democracy in sessions that revolve around their respective topics, using a wide array of creative methods, including serious games, thought exercises, simulations, arts and panel discussions.

We conclude the day by re-convening for a panel on the topic of independent media as watchdog against fake news and disinformation – and the role of academia in this playing field. Dr. Catalina Goanta and Prof. Bruce Mutsvairo will exchange views with experts from external organisations, such as Free Press Unlimited.

Sign up here for the IOS Community Day!