Address
IRI Europe
Box 200540
DE-35017 Marburg
Germany
Phone +49-(0)6421-1768014
You are here:
- Homepage
- Global Forum on Modern...
- Introduction
Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy
Join the Global Network of Direct Democracy Professionals
Since 2008 the Initiative and Referendum Institute has been instrumental in setting up the first global network of direct democracy professionals. The first World Forum took place in Aarau, Switzerland in October 2008. It brought together practitioners, activists and professionals from across the globe and featured a world tour of direct-democratic hotspots. Special thematic forums and public events covered educational issues, developments in North America, Latin America and Asia, as well as the importance of initiatives and referendums in the European integration process. While the 2009 Forum was taking place in Korea/Asia, the 2010 Forum gathered more than 400 citizens from all continents in San Francisco. The next Forum is planned to take place in the second half of 2012 in Latin America.
In recent years, many states around the world have introduced direct democratic procedures and plebiscites; in Europe, there has been a massive increase in the use of popular rights since 1989, and within the framework of the European Union, consideration is being given to the first ever implementation of a transnational instrument of direct democracy - the so-called European Citizens’ Initiative which is in fact an agenda initiative. Since 1990, initiative and referendum as well as plebiscite procedures have been introduced in nearly all the countries of Latin America; in Asia, too, there is a growing tendency towards introducing direct democracy which entitles citizens to take part in decision-making on substantive political issues.
As a result, there is a growing focus, not only within politics, but also in the fields of administration, academia, media and civil society, on the qualitative aspects of modern democracy. Questions are being asked about the potential and limits of modern direct democracy both from a legal and practical point of view. The Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy gathers professionals from politics, government, academia, civil society, business and media, and is hosted by IRI, a special think-tank on citizens’ rights, together with many of its partners including the Korea Democracy Foundation. For a full introduction and overview on the Global Forum process download our book "Global Citizens in Charge".
This global process explores the grounds for a worldwide network and aims to achieve various goals, which include:
preparing a global inventory of the procedures and praxis of citizens’ rights;
launching a public debate on the potential and the limits of direct democracy within the process of European integration;
presenting ideas and proposals for a global curriculum and agenda in the fields of education and research;
SIGN THE SAN FRANCISCO DECLARATION ON MODERN DIRECT DEMOCRACY NOW!
2011 Updates and Opportunities
It has been nearly a year since we gathered for five days in San Francisco to discuss how to improve our direct democracy – in our communities, cities, states, provinces, and home countries. With the passage of time, it is possible to see how the gallery has changed lives and accelerated the work of so many of us. Recent months have seen high Citizens in Charge put together a transpartisan gathering of speakers – most of them forum attendees – to examine the initiative process, and challenges to, in the state of Colorado. Global mapping and data collection has picked up speed, particularly at the IRI Navigator project. David Altman of Uruguay and Chile has published his groundbreaking new work, Direct Democracy Worldwide. And the San Francisco Declaration, the global forum’s statement of principles, has received signatures from thousands of people across six continents. A new organization has been established, Democracy International. The group builds on the work of the forum to create an activist network of those who work in and on behalf of direct democracy.
Next year, global attention will shift to Europe, where – in April 2012 – the very first transnational direct democratic tool, the European Citizens Initiative, will be launched. And preparations are underway to bring together the direct democracy crowd of professionals, activists, journalists, and critics late next year – at the 2012 Global Forum, to take place in Latin America late next year.
So we ask you at this time to reconnect with the forum and your fellow participants. If your memory of the event has lagged, please check out the comprehensive DVD of the event. And if you want to catch up, there are three events and programs, late this summer, to which we would like to invite you.
SEPTEMBER 2/3: ROSTOCK 21 – THE EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY FORUM
Twenty years ago people power activists from across Europe gathered at the Baltic Sea to discuss and plan for new democratization steps in recently reunified Europe. One of the key ideas at that time: the European Citizens’ Initiative! Ten years ago it was in Rostock, Germany – again on the Baltic -- that the Initiative and Referendum Institute Europe – now the continent’s premier think tank on modern direct democracy -- was founded. This year, yet another Rostock Democracy Forum will address the challenges ahead and draft new innovations for more democracy at all levels. Please join this conversation and, if you can, meet us in Rostock in the beginning of September!
SEPTEMBER 14-16: PEOPLE POWER – THE ICELANDIC WAY
After its big crisis, Iceland is about to reinvent itself. The Icelanders have recently taken part in two popular votes on financial markets and debt repayments. Now a fascinating process to rewrite the national constitution is on the way, combining innovative crowdsourcing with a constitutional convention. In September a first draft of the new constitution will be presented and shared with the world at Briefing events, a seminar and comparative workshops. Please participate in this process by coming to Reykjavik and Iceland in mid-september and by taking stock of one the most exciting current works on modern democracy.
SEPTEMBER 20-27: USDD – DIRECT DEMOCRACY IN THE AMERICAN WEST
This fall, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of direct demoracy in California – including the recall, referendum and the citizen’s initiative – with a public event in San Francisco and a weeklong briefing tour of Northern California, Arizona and Oregon. The programme starts in San Francisco on September 20 (evening), features large public events, small workshops and high-level international exchanges. As the number of slots on the tour is limited and many already have indicated their interest in joining the Briefing team, please do not hesitate and register as soon as possible.