The 2024 edition of the World Forum for Democracy will bring together intellectuals, politicians, campaigners, experts and young people from across the world to discuss the issue of diversity and whether we can transcend divides. In this special year in which half the world's population is voting in elections, the 2024 Forum will address the major threats posed by disinformation and divisive political messages relating to diversity, including in the context of election campaigns.
The Forum will question the way in which electoral processes unintentionally crystallise society's divisions and become fertile ground for populism to grow. Seeing how urgent this challenge is, the Forum will investigate ways of raising public awareness about the threats that populism poses to their fundamental rights and freedoms. It will also highlight how much diversity can contribute to positive co-existence. Plenary sessions will focus on topics including Elections and Value Divides; Unravelling the Web of Disinformation; Citizen Engagement for a Democratic Renewal; and From Populism to Authoritarianism - is the erosion of democracy inevitable? Young people from all over the world and students from Sciences Po Strasbourg and Syracuse Strasbourg will take an active part in debates.
The Forum is held by the Council of Europe in partnership with the City of Strasbourg, the European Territorial Authority of Alsace, the Grand Est Region and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
