Democracy

Liberal democracies are struggling to effectively manage emergent global challenges such as climate change and the advent of AI. The decision-making tools they have inherited from the 19th or 20th century are no longer sufficient to govern today’s society, resulting in a lack of trust in policymakers and institutions, and a very real sense of alienation amongst citizens from the democratic process. This in turn is driving greater levels of polarisation leading to a lack of trust in each other.

It is essential to envision a democracy fit for the 21st century, where citizens are motivated and empowered to participate in significant strategic and policy decisions that will impact their lives and the lives of generations to come.

Through the work of our Democracy programme, we will explore new forms of democratic engagement as the basis of a renewed social contract that keeps us together and allows more people to regain trust in each other and in a common future.