Renewing democracy: how to strengthen democratic resilience and outcompete authoritarianism in Europe?

Renewing democracy: how to strengthen democratic resilience and outcompete authoritarianism in Europe?

This Ditchley conference, "Renewing democracy: how to strengthen democratic resilience and outcompete authoritarianism in Europe," brought together participants to discuss the widespread challenges facing democracy, which were primarily identified as crises of representation and state function. Rather than a broad decline in democratic health, the discussion focused on the disillusionment of citizens who feel that elected officials and institutions are failing to deliver tangible results, which in turn has fuelled distrust and contributed to the rise of parties appealing to voters who want immediate action. Technology and social media were seen as the most significant modern challenges, profoundly changing the information landscape and contributing to polarisation and the spread of disinformation. It was widely recognised that strengthening democracy is closely linked to the economic well-being of citizens and is now also a matter of security and defence, requiring Europe to become a more credible security actor in its own right. The consensus was that renewing the democratic promise will require a collective effort to engage citizens, improve governmental responsiveness, and promote civic education.