Why we need more voices heard in European democracy, especially now
In the face of virulent authoritarism threatening democracy, citizen participation is the vaccine. The Citizens Take Over Europe coalition sets out a vision and a plan of action with a Citizen-led Conference on the Future of Europe.
Watching events unfold live on TV as the US Capitol was ransacked was shocking and horrifying, but sadly it was not at all surprising. A group of people who claim to be patriotic citizens take a stand as terrorists.
At the very same time, across the Atlantic, European citizens organised to raise their voice about a democratic and sustainable for Europe, a future that is open, inclusive and diverse. The connecting lines must be drawn as the same forces push and pull and shape our societies in Europe as in the US.
Citizens Take Over Europe is a citizen activation and participation initiative for a more demcratic Europe. It is made up of a coalition of over 50 non-profit organisations putting together a citizen led Conference on the Future of Europe. On 15 December, 13 and 14 January, the Citizens Take Over Europe coalition brought together hundreds of people digitally from across Europe for launch. For years now, the European Commission and EU state governments have promised a grand institutional Conference to determine the fate of the continent, and they have not delivered. Now, people, citizens, have gotten organised to do this themselves. To set out a vision for what democracy in the 21st century should look like and set out to include as many people as possible in that discussion. Whether we swing from democracy to authortarianism, how we handle climate change, or how emerging technologies shape our societies, that all hangs in the balance.
The same authoritarian forces, trends and tendencies that drove Trump supporters to attack Congress have driven attacks on democracy and the rule of law in Europe, with almost all of the EU’s member states being affected and shaped in one way or another.
The historian and author Timothy Snyder offers a clear-cut, lucid and effective analysis of the rise of Fascism and the disintegration of democracy, a short and simple Fascist handbook. Authoritarians effective steps: “1) Lie all the time 2) Accuse everyone of lying all the time 3) If everyone lies, then nothing is true.” When nothing is true, there are no facts, trust is lost, and with no trust, there is no rule of law and no democracy.
The antidote, and perhaps a more timely metaphor, the vaccine for this playbook is citizen participation, citizen action and debate. By creating forums and opportunities for people to come together to speak with each other and to debate each other and decision-makers, there are also opportunities to agree on truth, facts, and common values.
Public debate based on proven recognised facts and common values are the foundation, bedrock and backbone of democracy, and of the Enlightenment ideas that make democracy possible. Citizen participation is possible now on a scale previously unimaginable in human history. After decades of the European Union being distant and incomprehensible, it can now come closer, become real and easy to touch and feel. But creating opportunities for meaningful participation and engagement requires investment — an investment in a better future.
The sacking of the Capitol and the trends that led to it were not generated by Trump on November 4th 2020, nor were they created when he was elected in November 2016. These social forces have been decades in the making, with authoritarian ideologies being kicked around, with socio-economic stagnation and exclusion, with divestment and neglect of basic services, including education. Regular election campaigns cannot replace civic education. Maintaining that foundation for democracy of truth, facts, and values requires civic education and life long learning. In fact, there is no better education than participation in practice.
Citizens must make their voices heard then not just to set out a vision and a plan where their leaders have not done so. They must take action not just to compel their leaders to do better and hold them to account. People need to take part, take action and engage in order to sustain the very foundation of democracy through public debate, to be the backbone of democracy through their very action.
Citizens Take Over Europe will continue to bring together citizens for participation and debate across Europe, for a citizen-led conference on the Future of Europe and for long-term forward looking European democracy. The EU and its governments must take notice and make the long term investment in education, participation and a diversity of voices.
