Two Chairs is All it Takes
Experiences from talking democracy in 17 European cities.
Two chairs in the street facing each other. In one of them an IYTT Youth Fellow, passers-by invited to take the other. A handful of simple questions designed to probe the hearts and minds of the people. The Open Chair Democracy Talks can be performed anywhere, anytime, and by anyone – a simple concept that has the power to make a difference, giving both the participants and ourselves new perspectives.
In a recent weekend-long campaign, we talked to people in 17 European cities, and one in the USA, about their hopes and fears around democracy, their perceived opportunities, and their needs for empowerment.
This lunch event presents the method of the Open Chair Democracy Talk, and share our experiences from meeting hundreds of people – discussions of the challenges and possibilities of the open society as perceived from street level.
Everyone is welcome to attend the Lindholmen Democracy Talks. Please register below. Complimentary sandwich & soda for the attendees at Älvrummet!
Programme
Welcome & Introduction
Urban Strandberg (Managing Director IYTT).
What is an OCDT?
Short film by Michele Castrezzati (IYTT Youth Fellow) .
Live on Stage Open Chair Democracy Talks
Youth Fellow Michele Castrezzati talks to a high school student from the nearby high-school Polhemsgymnasiet and to Blerta Hoti (local politician, member of the executive commitee for the City of Gothenburg).
The Spring 2022 OCDT campaign
Urban Strandberg
Commentary and Analysis
Victoria Portnaya (IYTT Youth Fellow).
Panel Discussion
With Michele Castrezzati, Blerta Hoti and Johanna Lind, (Counsellor/Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Sweden in Madrid).
Open Floor Discussion
Is it Time We Lower the Voting Age?
Should 16 years old be allowed to vote?
Isn't it too early?
Well, some say it's even too late.
Maybe you already have an opinion. Maybe you're still looking for one. Anyway, if you want to wrap your head around the debate on lowering the voting age, you can join us on Instagram on Saturday, 26/02 at 3 PM, CET.
We'll talk with Teens for Democracy and Simona Mohamsson about this key issue that might unlock new ways to make future-proof decisions in a world that desperately needs long-term thinking.
See you soon!
Watch this past event here:
https://youtu.be/xF30RqM8Now
Populism Losing Ground – Lindholmen Democracy Talks
Inviting Cambridge’s Centre for the Future of Democracy to present the latest research on political attitudes.
The covid-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on democracy. The very latest research shows, that populistic ideas have lost ground, and that there is an increased support for political decision-making based on expert knowledge. At the same time, faith in democratic institutions remains low, after a decades-long decline. To some extent, increased confidence in technocracy is accompanied by a greater support for freedom-restricting policies.
The International Youth Think Tank is happy to welcome Xavier Romero Vidal, Research Associate at the Centre for the Future of Democracy of the University of Cambridge, who will be presenting the very latest research on public opinion from a global mega-dataset of over half a million people. The IYTT, in turn, will be presenting our own Youth Panel on political participation & attitudes.
With this as a starting point, we will engage in a discussion on the future of democracy: Are democratic institutions sufficiently equipped to represent the will and the values of the people – of young people especially? How can democracy deficits be addressed, and what is the role of organizations like the IYTT in such a process?
Everyone is welcome to attend the Lindholmen Democracy Talks. Please register below. The attendees at Älvrummet will be treated to a sandwich & soda!
Programme
Welcome & Introduction
Urban Strandberg, Managing Director IYTT
Youth and democracy: from dissatisfaction to depolarization
Xavier Romero Vidal, Centre for the Future of Democracy, University of Cambridge
World Value Studies and the IYTT European Youth Panel compared
Erik Toshach, IYTT
Panel Commentary
IYTT Youth Fellows Greek Emma Sougli (IYC2021), British Alexander Shirreff (IYC2019) & Italian-Colombian Francisco Jose Lopez Velez (IYC2020)
Open Floor Discussion
Watch this past event here:
https://youtu.be/5Ql5NAAYQcI