What a week for democracy! This was Democracy R&D
More than 270 participants from all over the world gathered in Brussels for four days for the international Democracy R&D conference. The event offered a mix of lectures, debates, workshops and networking opportunities — all with one shared goal: to renew and strengthen our democracies.
Belgium as a laboratory for democratic innovation
The pre-conference kicked off with a session on permanent citizens’ dialogues in Belgium. Ben Eersels, Director of G1000, took the floor and outlined how deliberative democracy in Belgium evolved in just ten years from a bold experiment into an international example of institutionalised citizen participation. Rewatch the session here.
European democracy at a crossroads
This was followed by the session Europe at a Crossroads, led by Isabelle Dresse, Project Coordinator at G1000. David Van Reybrouck delivered a powerful keynote on the state of democracy in Europe and around the world. He reminded the audience that Europe needs not only a “democracy shield” to protect its democratic values, but also a “democracy field” — a space where democracy becomes a domain of innovation, exploration and continuous improvement. The keynote was followed by two conversations: the first offered a diagnosis of the state of Europe’s democratic institutions; the second put forward a number of bold ideas for democratic renewal.
During the main conference, participants spent two days engaging in workshops, keynotes and deep dives on deliberative democracy. In the panel discussion 'Deliberation, a House of Cards?', moderated by Ben Eersels, speakers explored the political and financial factors that stand in the way of democratic innovation, and how these obstacles can be overcome. They stressed that democracy must not become a luxury product — something people have to pay for. Real renewal requires structural support and recognition that meaningful participation and dialogue are essential to the future of democracy.
Strong stories, strong democracy
The conference concluded on Friday with an inspiring workshop by communications agency FINN, where participants learned how to build a strong media strategy. Because democratic innovation, too, needs powerful stories that connect, inspire and mobilise people.