Is democracy in crisis? Judging by the sometimes record levels of voter abstention, public distrust of leaders – fed by increasing numbers of corruption scandals – and the rise in anti-system parties, the gap between institutions and the public is widening. Traditional modes of public participation are giving way to social media which make the public directly accessible to politicians and activists at all times. They foster interest-based communities, but struggle to provide a platform for a coherent democratic debate.
While the social media have fuelled citizen protest movements and democratic revolutions, can they really help to revive representative democracy and everyday governance? What future lies ahead for the traditional forms of participation? How can new and traditional forms of participation complement each other?
To address these issues, the Council of Europe has invited political leaders, experts, journalists and youth and civil society representatives from all over the world to the Second World Forum for Democracy, under the heading: Re-wiring democracy: connecting institutions and citizens in the digital age. The 2013 Forum will highlight practical new measures to boost citizen participation in democratic life.
The Forum is organised in partnership with the City of Strasbourg, the French government and the Region of Alsace and will be held at the Council of Europe from 27 to 29 November. Events and debates for the general public will begin on 23 November. -02D-
Politics
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A gas tanker exploded at a petrol station in the centre of Grozny on Saturday evening. According to preliminary data, four people were killed.
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On 10 and 11 October, Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra attended the last ministerial meeting before COP29. With just a month to go until the COP29 in Baku, it was an important occasion to address topics like climate finance, international carbon markets and Article 6, adaptation, mitigation, transparent reporting and the follow-up of the COP28 commitment to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.
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In a case that is disappointing but not surprising, the agreement between the government of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for hosting the climate conference COP29, is replete with significant shortcomings and ambiguities on the protections for participants’ rights. Human Rights Watch has obtained a copy of this host country agreement, signed in August 2024, which has yet to be made public.
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On October 12, a video conference meeting was held at the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense with the participation of military leadership, commanders of the branches of the armed forces, and leaders of major military units. Minister of Defense Zakir Hasanov, recalling statements by President Ilham Aliyev, emphasized that the main goal of the army is to enhance military power and combat capabilities, as well as to prepare professional personnel.
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