Yale’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs & Center for Global Legal Challenges: ‘Yale Cyber Leadership Forum: Disinformation and the Future of Democracy’ - 4 March 2022, 9.00-12.00 (EST)

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The 2022 Yale Cyber Leadership Forum will take place as a series of hybrid in-person and virtual discussions, bringing together an impressive array of attorneys, technologists, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and academics to explore the national security challenges associated with artificial intelligence and machine learning. This year’s Forum, Bridging the Divide: National Security Implications of Artificial Intelligence, will explore how advances in AI have the potential to dramatically alter the cybersecurity threat landscape.

The Forum will be held on three Friday sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST in 2022: February 18, March 4, and April 1. The virtual sessions will be open to the Yale community and general public, as well as recorded for distribution afterwards.

The March 4 session, “Disinformation and the Future of Democracy,” will convene Yale faculty, students, and outside experts to address the following:

How can AI tools help detect “deep fakes” and other forms of coordinated inauthentic behavior online? How can democratic policymakers and social media companies counter the threat of disinformation and online extremism without impinging on freedom of speech and other fundamental freedoms? What are the most effective techniques for educating citizens to the threat of disinformation, and developing counter-narratives to combat conspiracy theories?

World Affairs Council of Orange County: ‘Standing Against Authoritarianism: Belarus' Opposition Leader on Fighting the Lukashenko Regime from Exile’ - 3 March 2022, 9.00-10.00 (Pacific Time)

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Join us on Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 9am for an online discussion with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces. The talk will be moderated by Melinda Haring, the deputy director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center.

Organized by the World Affairs Council of Orange County, the event is hosted in partnership with the UCLA Center for European and Russian Studies, World Affairs Councils of America (WACA), Eurasia Center of the Atlantic Council, and World Affairs Council of Greater Houston.

International Forum for Democratic Studies: ‘An Offshore Cold War: Forging a Democratic Alliance to Combat Transnational Kleptocracy’ - 2 March 2022, 10.00-11.00 (EST)

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As Oliver Bullough notes in a compelling new paper from NED’s International Forum, transnational kleptocracy combines “19th-century autocracy with 21st-century finance” to empower dictators to use illicit wealth to corrode both foreign and domestic institutions. Against the backdrop of intensifying aggression toward Ukraine exerted by Russia’s kleptocratic regime, please join us for a conversation about this growing threat to democracy that has urgent conse­quences for national security, human rights, and development. Bullough makes the case that democracies must develop a unified response to this critical challenge, much as they did during the fight against communism during the Cold War, by focusing on shared fundamental values of political and personal freedom, free markets, free speech, and independent judicial systems. The International Forum for Democratic Studies will host Oliver Bullough and German Marshall Fund President Heather Conley for a conversation on his paper, “An Offshore Cold War: Forging a Democratic Alliance to Combat Transnational Kleptocracy,” and the broader challenges to democracy transnational kleptocracy poses today.

Stanford Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law: ‘Facing Autocracy, a Global Challenge’ - 2 March 2022, 16.00 (Pacific Time)

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As a Venezuelan, Leopoldo López lived through the gradual deterioration of what was once a regional reference for democracy into an authoritarian regime that has created the worst humanitarian and migration crisis in the Western Hemisphere. Venezuela is a clear example of how democracy could lose the battle against autocracy.

Unfortunately, the fight for freedom is no longer an issue to be solved only among Venezuelans. In fact, our conflict has become, like many others around the world, part of the global conflict between autocracy and democracy.

Autocracy in its different forms is spreading and constitutes a diverse but articulated movement around the world. To face this situation, new forms of organizations and democratic leadership must be promoted and empowered as an effective way to revert this new wave of autocracies. It is essential to create a synergy between effective local leadership, a comprehensive narrative and the use of new technologies that set up a range of possibilities to promote freedom.

National Endowment for Democracy: ‘Rebuilding Democratic Momentum’ - 8 December 2021, 12.30-13.45 (EST)

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On the eve of the Summit for Democracy, the National Endowment for Democracy will convene a dynamic forum featuring some of the world’s most important voices from the frontlines of the democratic struggle, including this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, Philippine journalist Maria Ressa.

Activists from Hong Kong, Nicaragua, Nigeria, and Russia will also discuss global challenges to democracy in conversation with US Legislators. Some of America’s most dedicated and experienced democracy advocates will share their insights and expertise on how to rebuild democratic momentum. Former heads of government who helped lead their countries through democratic transitions will reflect on how to sustain democracy after a democratic transition.

Asia Foundation: ‘Making Democracy Deliver in the Indo-Pacific - A Summit For Democracy Side-Event’ - 7 December 2021, 9.00-10.30 (ET)

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The story of democracy across Asia in the 21st century has been an uneven one, as many governments and leaders with authoritarian tendencies have presided over democratic backsliding and the hollowing-out of key institutions, as well as mounted determined efforts to shrink civic space. While Covid-19 presents new opportunities for countries to consider development pathways to successful rebuilding efforts, it is now more important than ever that democracy can demonstrate its value in providing tangible economic and social gains across the Indo-Pacific.

As the U.S. seeks to expand its partnerships through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue and other regional architecture, civil society will play an increasingly important role in the delivery of basic services to citizens across regions that are still marked by high levels of poverty and rising inequality. Civil society actors are key to helping to make democratic systems—nascent, developing, or otherwise—work for all citizens, increasing equitable access to jobs and service and thereby contributing to equitable development and social cohesion.

Join us to hear how expert panelists explore the complex relationship between democracy and development, and what it will take for democracy to deliver for the people of the Indo-Pacific. Panelists will share their insights into efforts to stave off democratic backsliding resilience initiatives, push back against the closing of civic space, and ensure there continue to be viable pathways for democratic development that delivers in Asia.

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU): ‘143rd Assembly and related meetings’ - 26-30 November 2021

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At the invitation of the Parliament of Spain, the 143rd Assembly of the IPU and its related meetings will be held in Madrid (IFEMA Palacio Municipal) from 26 to 30 November 2021 - the first in-person Assembly since October 2019 and the subsequent onslaught of the pandemic. All IPU statutory bodies, including the Governing Council, Standing Committees, Committees on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians and on Middle East Questions, as well as the Forum of Women Parliamentarians and the Forum of Young MPs, will convene during this Assembly. The General Debate will provide a platform for delegates to deliberate, exchange views and seek to galvanize parliamentary action to uphold and promote democracy around the world.

The Assembly will adopt resolutions on the emergency item and on the subject item taken up by the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights entitled Legislation worldwide to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse. The Assembly is expected to conclude with the adoption of an outcome document on the overall theme of the General Debate.

International IDEA: ‘Election Assistance in Times of Democratic Backlash’ - 26 November 2021, 14.00-15.30 (CET)

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The international community of Election Assistance (EA) practitioners has over decades built norms and principles for the support to free and fair elections. When properly applied, these principles contribute to more effective election processes. A new EBA study, ”Supporting Elections Effectively: Principles and Practice of Electoral Assistance”, has mapped these principles, and systematically assembled the wider knowledge gained by this community of practitioners.

Given the ongoing wave of autocratization, however, there is an urgent need to update the principles. The influence of new technologies, the role of money in politics, deliberate undermining of elections and other challenges need to be dealt with. Revitalised arenas for knowledge exchange and for renewal of EA principles are called for. Hear from leading experts and practitioners.

Speakers and discussants:

• Therese Pearce Laanela, Head of Electoral Processes, International IDEA

• Thomas Carothers, Harvey V. Fineberg Chair for Democracy Studies & Senior V P for Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

• Staffan Smedby, Head, Unit for Democracy and Human Rights, Sida

Moderator: Helena Lindholm, Professor of Peace and Development & EBA Chair

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania: ‘High Level Forum: Future of Democracy Vilnius 2021 - Defending Against Authoritarianism’ - 19-20 November 2021

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What is going to be the democratic world’s response to the authoritarian pressures? How can we rejuvenate the soft power of the democratic model? How, in the face of resurgent authoritarianism and democratic backsliding across the globe, can we restart democratic renewal, increase democracies‘ resilience and defense capabilities? What is the roadmap to the democratic world order based on respect for fundamental liberties, human rights and rule of law?

The first prerequisite for overcoming the current problematic situation and formulating political recipes is to recognise clearly and conceptualise the state we are in. The Forum will discuss and analyse, in a pragmatic and solution-oriented manner, a comprehensive range of topics. It will seek to formulate a political document which will encapsulate the political vision of the participants of the Forum and will present a set of concrete recommendations for the democratic recovery – the roadmap to the future of democracy.

African Network of Constitutional Lawyers: ‘ANCL Hybrid Conference 2021: Checking the Tide of Democratic Regression in Africa’ - 28-29 October 2021

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The African Network of Constitutional Lawyers (ANCL) in collaboration with the University of Nairobi, School of Law will be hosting the ANCL Hybrid conference in 2021 in Nairobi, Kenya. This conference follows and builds on the discussions initiated at the 2018 conference in Gaborone, Botswana on the theme “Courts, Power and Constitutional Law in Africa” and during a webinar in 2020 which was a commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the Constitution of Kenya. This year’s hybrid conference will offer a reflection on the status of constitutionalism in Africa through the lens of the aspirations, performance, and challenges of Checking the tide of democratic regression in Africa.

International IDEA: ‘Democracy and the Challenges of Climate Change’ - 26 October 2021, 14.00-15.15 (CEST)

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In the run-up to the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, International IDEA is hosting a webinar to launch its discussion paper on Democracy and the Challenges of Climate Change to zoom in on what innovations, policies and actions are available to democracies to successfully tackle climate change. The webinar presents the findings and policy recommendations of the discussion paper and starts exploring a range of tangible solutions and policy recommendations that could enable democracies to accelerate the climate action required to meet their Paris Agreement commitments.

RECONNECT: ‘Referendums in Europe – A democratic turn or dictatorial reversal?’ - 27 September 2021, 12.30-13.15 (CEST)

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Tools of democracy or a device of dictators and demagogues? Whatever one’s views of referendums, they have become increasingly prevalent in many European countries in recent years. The reasons for holding referendums differ from state to state; they may result from constitutional requirements (e.g. in Ireland and Denmark) or from political choices, arising from politicians’ attempts to hold together divided parties (e.g. the 2016 Brexit referendum) or their desire to go directly to the people to demonstrate support for their preferred policies (e.g. Viktor Orbán’s repeated referendums in Hungary), with this last approach most likely to draw criticism from political opponents.

Referendums in Europe typically fall into a variety of categories: i) on constitutional matters; ii) on issues of social policy; iii) and EU-related, whether on accession, treaty reform, or even withdrawal. This last category can have major implications for the whole EU. Citizens of one country blocking a treaty can ensure that it falls (e.g. the Constitutional Treaty in 2005) even if the citizens of every other Member State wanted it ratified. Referendums within the EU can thus give some citizens far greater leverage than others; there is not a level playing-field and certainly not direct democracy for all.

Are referendums nonetheless one potential avenue to democratise and re-legitimise the Future of Europe? In this webinar, Julie Smith will talk about the pros and cons of referendums in the EU,  based on her newest book “The Palgrave Handbook of European Referendums“, and consider whether there are ways to improve their use, for example, allowing pan-EU referendums on treaty ratification.

International Foundation for Electoral Systems: ‘Parliamentary Elections and Politics in Russia’ - 23 September 2021, 9.00-10.15 (EDT) / 15.00-16.15 (CEST)

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Russian citizens will cast their votes in the September 17-19 parliamentary elections. What do elections mean in Putin's Russia, and where is Russian politics heading? How will the international community perceive the elections given the absence of international election observers, due to "major limitations" imposed by Russian authorities?

Please join IFES and experts from the region to identify answers to these questions and to gain insights on the Russian parliamentary elections and politics. The event will be held live via Zoom and feature simultaneous interpretation from English into Albanian, Armenian, Georgian, Macedonian, Russian, South Slavic language and Ukrainian.

Panelists:

• Dr. Magnus Öhman (Moderator), Senior Political Finance Adviser and Regional Europe Office Director, IFES

• Anthony Bowyer, Program and Research Advisor, Europe and Eurasia, IFES

• Stefanie Schiffer, Executive Director, European Exchange

• Roman Udot, Co-Chairman of the Board, The Movement for the Defense of Voters’ Rights Golos

• Dr. Katerina Tertytchnaya, Assistant Professor in Comparative Politics, Department of Political Science, University College London

Hillary Rodham Clinton School Of Law (Swansea University): ‘Constitutionalism in Troubled Times Workshop’- 15 September 2021, 10.00-15.30 (BST)

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It is no exaggeration to say that liberal constitutionalism is in crisis. Increasingly attacked as an elitist conspiracy to obstruct the people’s will, the traditional rallying cries of constitutionalism – freedom, toleration, human rights – seem to have lost their potency.

This workshop asks whether our current predicament demands a re-examination of the relationship between the constitutional and the political. Does our constitutional discourse need an injection of political realism? Or would we do better to reassert the fundamental moral values upon which constitutionalism is based? Do political representatives need to attend more to their constituents’ preferences, or is the public perhaps in need of greater civic education? And if toleration and respect for human rights really is in decline, can the ideal of a republican political constitutionalism survive?

International IDEA: ‘Almedalen Democracy Summit 2021 - Bridging the Chasm: The Role of Information, Inclusion and Integrity in Revitalizing Democracy’ - 7 July 2021, 15.30-17.00 (Stockholm time)

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In recognition of the Swedish Parliament’s ongoing 100-year jubilee of the democratic process, the Stockholm Philanthropy Symposium, International IDEA, International YOUTH Think Tank, and Athens Democracy Forum have joined forces to organize the Almedalen Democracy Summit.

The purpose of this Summit is to discuss the aspects, challenges and opportunities that modern democracies face, seeking solutions for a more sustainable and inclusive future for our societies. The event will convene prominent experts, youth fellows, policymakers (including officials from the Swedish government), practitioners and academics from around the world.