Athens Democracy Forum 2026
CHAOS OR ORDER?
The impact of major global changes over the last 12 months were evident at the 2026 edition of the Athens Democracy Forum this week.[i]
A year ago, the Forum organisers had the foresight to pose questions about the impact of AI on democracy. This year, participants confronted the reality of chaos. The Forum met only weeks after news of AI agents going rogue had made headlines everywhere.
Last year people questioned the impact of US policies on the institutions and practices that had underpinned global order despite upheavals. Since then, the erstwhile champion of democracy has openly undermined both institutions and norms. Meanwhile, war in the Middle East has reignited with global consequences, the war in Ukraine continues, a terrible civil war devastates Sudan, and there is growing anxiety in East Asia. These conflicts and risks are all interlinked.
The United States has followed Russia in returning to the strategies of zones of influence as in the 19th century, but with the technologies of the 21st century. China observes, bides its time, and prepares.
The United Nations secretariat has become a voice in the wilderness. The UN security council has been neutered by the veto rule; the annual UN General Assembly is just a platform for staking out hardline positions.
So, chaos is the new reality. The theme of this year’s Forum, “Building order out of chaos”, was as much a question as an aspiration. Kim Conniff Taber, the Editorial Director, acknowledged as much.
Seeking a way forward, the Forum’s President, Achilles Tsaltis, announced an agreement to partner with the Global Democracy Coalition, which links regional and local initiatives to foster democracy. The Coalition aims to get to grips with the challenges of the time by beginning at the local level. On the bright side, Achilles said that more young people than ever were participating. And he affirmed: “At the Forum, we believe firmly in the nexus between democracy and culture”
More to follow …..
Yuko & Robert Harris were at the Forum for the East West Cultural Exchange Centre, Bourgogne, France.
[1] 29 September to 1 October