Discussion Series: Democratic Resilience in Europe

What is happening with democracy and elections in Europe? To encourage discussion and to share information about key issues in European politics, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) holds monthly online discussions with experts and experienced practitioners, organized by its Regional Elections Administration and Political Processes Strengthening program and the IFES Regional Europe Office in Prague, Czech Republic. Participants have an opportunity to ask questions and voice their thoughts about the issue being discussed.

The Democratic Resilience in Europe discussion series has received broad interest and high-level participation. An array of international good practices and recommendations have been identified, and these insights have provided integral input to the actions of election management bodies, observers, and advocacy groups.

Upcoming Events

Since early 2020, IFES has held regular online discussions on issues related to electoral integrity and democratic resilience in Europe. As of March 2023, 26 installments have been held with the participation of over 2,200 people from 95 countries.

Attitudes Towards Democracy–Trends in Central Europe

The impact of the war in Ukraine continues to be felt in Central Europe with increased propaganda from the Kremlin and large numbers of Ukrainians migrating for safety. The conflict, coupled with concerning political developments in Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, and an unclear situation in the Czech Republic, pose a question about attitudes towards democracy in Central Europe. Join IFES for an online discussion on popular democratic resilience that will bring together a panel of experts to explore current trends in Central European countries.

The event will be held on Zoom. There will be an opportunity for the audience to ask the panelists questions.

RSVP

Moderator

• Magnus Öhman, Sr. Political Finance Advisor, and Director, Regional Europe Office, IFES

Panelists

• Michal Vasecka, Sociologist, Bratislava Policy Institute, Slovakia 
• Ingrida Kerusauskaite, Community Cohesion in Central Europe project Team Leader, IFES Center for Anti-Corruption and Democratic Trust Senior Research Fellow 
• Dr. Cassandra Emmons, Senior Democracy Data Analyst, Center for Applied Research and Learning, IFES 

Past Events

• Slovak Parliamentary Elections in an Era of Disinformation: Post-Election Debrief
• Administering Elections in Europe During a Pandemic
• Preserving Electoral Integrity During an Infodemic
• Promoting Digital Youth Civic Engagement
• How to Build a Democracy that’s Designed for All?: Promoting Access and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
• Safeguarding Electoral Integrity Through Better Cybersecurity
• Recent European Elections During the Pandemic: Georgia, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine
• Gender Dimensions of Disinformation in Elections, Politics, and the Digital Information Space
• Democratic Resilience After One Year of the Pandemic
• Abuse of State Resources: Risks and Solutions
• Recent Elections in Albania, Bulgaria, and Cyprus During the Pandemic
• Electoral Justice in Europe During the Pandemic
• Parliamentary Elections and Politics in Russia
• Countering Kremlin Influence in European Democratic Processes
• Finding the Balance—Counteracting Disinformation without Restricting Free Speech
• The Current and Future Role of Political Parties in European Countries
• Tearing Down the Curtain: Countering the Kremlin's Information War
• Democratic Challenges in Europe: Recent Elections in Serbia and Hungary—What Lies Ahead?
• Digital Transformation as an Anti-Corruption Tactic: Evidence and Experience from Europe
• Malign Kremlin Influence on Democratic Institutions: The Case of the Czech Republic and Implications for Central Europe
• Protecting Free Speech in Europe—How to Stop Strategic Lawsuits Against Political Participation
• Foreign Manipulation of Democratic Processes, Recent META Report on the U.S. and the Czech Republic
• The Ambition Gap?—Barriers to the Participation of Women in Politics
• Ending Impunity: Investigating Money in Politics Offenses in Europe
• Defending Democracy in Ukraine—the Road Ahead
• Influencing Democracy? The Role of Influencers in Countering Authoritarianism