The rises of populism and nationalism in Europe and beyond, the increasing popularity of autocratic rulers, and the damage to the legal foundations of democratic systems are clear warnings that defending democracy is an ongoing task for all our societies. Brexit, the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris agreement and international trade negotiations, and the return to protectionist politics are clear indications to which extent the faulting of globalisation can put Western values and its democratic order at risk.
On this background, the Brussels office of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung organises a series of debates on "Democracy put to test" between analysts, civil society representatives and policy-makers to reflect oncurrent developments, the state of democracy as well as the challenges ahead.
Our first event: “Post-war Syria – Forward to the Past?”