Athens Democracy Forum

Athens Democracy Forum Bringing together leaders, thinkers, and experts to face the greatest challenges of our time. One of Democracy & Culture Foundation’s flagship events.

Central banks are meant to be independent pillars of economic stability. But what happens when their independence become...
23/04/2026

Central banks are meant to be independent pillars of economic stability. But what happens when their independence becomes a test for democracy itself?

Our panel "Central Banks and Independence: A Test for Democracy" today at Delphi Economic Forum IX explored this critical question!

🗣️ Speakers:

▪️ Selva Demiralp - Professor of Economics, Koc University, Türkiye
▪️ Christina Papaconstantinou - Deputy Governor, Bank of Greece
▪️ Maria Demertzis - Professor of Economic Policy, Florence School of Transnational Governance, EUI
▪️ Carla Sands - Chair, Foreign Policy Initiative, America First Policy Institute, United States

Moderated by Liz Alderman, Journalist and former Chief European Business Correspondent, The New York Times.

📣 Regisrations Now Open!The Democracy and Culture Foundation in association with The New York Times presents the 14th At...
31/03/2026

📣 Regisrations Now Open!

The Democracy and Culture Foundation in association with The New York Times presents the 14th Athens Democracy Forum: "Building Order Out of Chaos" (September 29 - October 2, 2026).

Liberal democracy is openly contested. The question is no longer whether democracy is under threat, but how it can adapt, deliver, and inspire in the 21st century.

Rooted in Athens' legacy as democracy's birthplace and laboratory, we'll bring together policymakers, activists, technologists, artists, and young changemakers for four days of bold ideas and actionable solutions.

Democracy can change the world - if it learns how to change itself.

Super Early Bird tickets available now! Secure yours via the 🔗 https://ow.ly/B9YX50YBexc
Explore the full programming brief: https://ow.ly/xgK250YBexg

🗓️ Sept 29 – Oct 2, 2026
📍 Athens, Greece

🌍 Rethinking Cybersecurity & Geopolitics: A Quantum Leap Forward or Back?At this year’s Athens Democracy Forum, we broug...
17/03/2026

🌍 Rethinking Cybersecurity & Geopolitics: A Quantum Leap Forward or Back?

At this year’s Athens Democracy Forum, we brought together global leaders to explore one of the most pressing challenges of our time: How will AI, quantum computing, and advanced technologies reshape cybersecurity - and geopolitics - over the next five years?

In a thought-provoking panel, Evan Kotsovinos, VP of Privacy, Safety and Security at Google, and Martin Hojsík, VP of the European Parliament discussed the dual-edged nature of technological progress. While innovations promise stronger defenses, they also risk empowering malicious actors. Who will lead this race, and what are the stakes for global security?

Evan Kotsovinos emphasized: “We must secure AI itself from cyber attacks, we must mitigate risks of cyber attacks on AI vulnerabilities, and we must use AI to create greater safety systems.”

📺 Watch the full discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xfYdlXLKsw

71% of young people use social media to stay informed. But only 38% follow political parties—compared with 60% who follo...
13/03/2026

71% of young people use social media to stay informed. But only 38% follow political parties—compared with 60% who follow influencers.

How to "Sell" Democracy Online, supported by Bertelsmann Stiftung explored why traditional political actors struggle to reach younger audiences - and what works instead.

The research is clear: short, honest, selfie-style videos build trust. Polished, confrontational content doesn't. And while provocative videos get 40% more views, they don't create deeper political understanding.

What should change? Show up consistently on TikTok and Instagram. Be authentic. Critique policies, not people. Measure awareness and participation, not just views.

Sustainable democratic engagement online requires credible, empathetic communication grounded in civic purpose.

The full Report is now available via the 🔗 https://ow.ly/se6A50Yq8JZ

10/03/2026

"What are you willing to sacrifice for the truth?"

Maria Ressa, Co-Founder and C.E.O. of Rappler stood before the Athens Democracy Forum 2025 and delivered the Aristotle Address with a challenge that cut to the core: the battle for democracy isn't just external - it's internal, fought in each person's conscience.

"In every authoritarian playbook, the pattern is the same." But Ressa also offered hope: "We've seen this assault happen worldwide, but we've also seen when citizens defend democracy, it can get better."

"The fight for facts is the defense of freedom. The fight for truth is the defense of justice."
Her closing words left no room for hesitation: "Please jump in, act now before it's too late."

Watch the full Aristotle Address and her conversation with Farah Nayeri (The New York Times) https://ow.ly/TvnZ50Yq9Ai

Multilateral Institutions and Global Risks, supported by the Global Challenges Foundation, examined whether the post-Wor...
06/03/2026

Multilateral Institutions and Global Risks, supported by the Global Challenges Foundation, examined whether the post-World War II order is ending and what should replace it.
Namatai Kwekweza, Jens Orback, and Nudhara Yusuf discussed representation, effectiveness, and reform pathways for global governance. Steven Erlanger moderated.

Key Insights:
🌍 Crisis of Purpose - Multilateral institutions face growing demands yet diminished capacity. Today's structures don't reflect global demographics or economic weight.
🤝 Coalitions Over Consensus - Move beyond 193-member gridlock. Middle-power coalitions can pilot reforms where agreement exists.
🔄 Multi-Alignment Rising - Countries now practice multi-alignment rather than rigid blocs. The lesson: engage and adapt, or risk fragmentation.

Three conclusions: disengagement is counterproductive; legitimacy requires fairer representation; practical reform can proceed through coalitions of willing states.

Full Report is now available via the 🔗 https://www.athensdemocracyforum.com/knowledge-hub/reports-1/2025/
Watch the full video👉 🔗 https://ow.ly/O9sw50Yq8sX

🗣️ "A.I. is the defining discovery of our generation. But it raises critical questions. How do we protect public discour...
03/03/2026

🗣️ "A.I. is the defining discovery of our generation. But it raises critical questions. How do we protect public discourse from manipulation?" - Dimitris Papastergiou, Greece's Minister of Digital Governance

At the 2025 Athens Democracy Forum's A.I. day, Minister Papastergiou addressed the dual nature of artificial intelligence - its potential to help governments operate more efficiently while posing real threats to democratic discourse if left unchecked.

"This is not merely a technological challenge; it is a democratic one," he emphasized, calling for a robust legal framework to regulate the AI market and safeguard European elections through collaboration between governments, institutions, and tech companies.

"Our compass is clear: AI must uphold rights and create value. Only then can democracy flourish in the digital age," he concluded.

Watch the full speech 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3MI2mQ8bkI

Information Integrity Online: Preserving Democracy on Digital Platforms, supported by TikTok explored how democratic soc...
27/02/2026

Information Integrity Online: Preserving Democracy on Digital Platforms, supported by TikTok explored how democratic societies can safeguard information integrity in the digital sphere.

Social media platforms have become primary information sources, especially for younger audiences. While enabling unprecedented participation, they also amplify misinformation, disinformation, and polarization.

Key Insights:
🔍 Three-Part Framework - Detection (identifying harmful content), Response (reducing visibility, providing context), and Education (empowering users to assess information critically).
🤝 Shared Responsibility - Disinformation can't be solved through technology alone. It requires governments, platforms, civil society, and users collaborating to promote transparency and accountability.
📚 Education as the Long-Term Solution - Digital literacy in schools, critical thinking, and intergenerational dialogue are essential. Informed citizens are the best defense against manipulation.

The conclusion: safeguarding democracy in the digital era requires transparency, accountability, and education. Platforms must uphold ethical standards, regulators must protect fundamental rights, and citizens must be empowered to discern credible information.

The full Report is now available via the 🔗 https://www.athensdemocracyforum.com/knowledge-hub/reports-1/2025/

24/02/2026

Chrystia Freeland, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Canada, reveals a striking moment from NAFTA negotiations that exposes the strategic use of uncertainty in trade policy.

At the Athens Democracy Forum 2025 panel "Rethinking Trade: The End of Globalism?", she shared how the U.S. openly admitted: "We want uncertainty because we want to discourage investors from investing anywhere other than the United States."

But uncertainty cuts both ways. As Freeland noted, American business leaders and investors are now finding this same uncertainty troubling—because it applies to them too. U.S. companies depend on trade from the rest of the world, and without knowing what tariffs their inputs will face, making business decisions becomes nearly impossible.

Her message: strategic uncertainty may serve short-term political goals, but it undermines the cooperation and trust that prosperity depends on.

Freeland participated alongside Brando Benifei (European Parliament Victor Gao (Center for China and Globalization), and Mary Beth Goodman (OECD) moderated by Liz Alderman (The New York Times).

Watch the full panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me2sh4RE2SQ&t=2461s

The Resilience in an Era of Economic Interdependence workshop, supported by Kofi Annan Foundation and the Albert Hirschm...
20/02/2026

The Resilience in an Era of Economic Interdependence workshop, supported by Kofi Annan Foundation and the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, examined how global trade systems can adapt to crises, shifting power dynamics, and changing political narratives.

Globalization has produced prosperity, but also deepened inequality and social division. Participants explored three potential futures for global trade governance: a reformed multilateral framework, regional trade blocs, and phased liberalization.

A recurring theme: economic resilience depends as much on governance as on trade flows. Citizens must perceive fairness and opportunity in the system, not merely stability or efficiency.

The conclusion: democratic nations have a unique responsibility to ensure that interdependence strengthens rather than weakens social cohesion. Rebuilding trust between nations and ensuring fair participation in global trade are essential to sustaining democracy.

The full Report is now available via the 🔗 https://www.athensdemocracyforum.com/knowledge-hub/reports-1/2025/

Address

Athens

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Athens Democracy Forum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Athens Democracy Forum:

Shortcuts

Share

Category