Romania has just completed the first round of the presidential elections, and between the two rounds, something familiar floats in the air: disappointment, suspicion, electoral fatigue. Over 9.5 million Romanians voted, but almost half of the citizens chose, again, not to choose. Confidence in political parties is free, and the most powerful camps seem to form not around ideas, but anger.
We are a fragmented society, where the algorithms decide what we see, and the conspiracies circulate faster than the official information. The elections have become a symbolic fighting field between “us” and “they”, between “ours” and “traitors”, between “those who know” and “those who do not think”.
In this tense context, a question arises above the slogans: What do we do with democracy between votes? Who protects it, who understands it, who believes it?
On May 11, UNFINISED DEMOCRACY asks the questions that matter
Fixed between the two election tours, in Bucharest there is UNFINISED DEMOCRACY – a day when democracy enters the laboratory. It's not a festival, it's not a conference. It is a living space of civic reflection, created by the Eidos Foundation, in partnership with The Democracy and Culture Foundation, Atlas Intel, Funky Citizens, a minute policy and other key organizations in Romania and Europe.
In short, a whole day of uncomfortable questions, brave conversations and democratic experiments for all ages – from 8 -year -olds to opinion leaders or experts in geopolitics, economics and social activism.
What is happening?
Unfinished democracy lab (11: 00–16: 00 | House of Ideas, str. Dionisie Lupu 46)
A civic marathon with workshops and sessions that put urgently themes under the magnifying glass:
- What kind of economy do we want – protectionist or open? (with Funky Citizens)
- How do we recognize contemporary forms of extremism? (with Vlad Adamescu)
- Can we have a real dialogue with someone who believes in conspiracy theories? (with Răzvan Petri)
- How do we make the difference between news and handling? (Practical Fact-Cocking Workshop with factual.ro)
- What stories do we tell about democracy? (workshop with Foresight specialist, Diana Stafie)
Those who want to participate can register by filling in the following form: https://eidosfounedation.typeform.com/democracylabeng
Kids for Democracy (11: 00–16: 00 | House of Ideas, str. Dionisie Lupu 46)
A parallel program dedicated to children and adolescents, made with the School for Democracy, Curiosity Play Lab and the visual reporter Oana Barbonie, in which young people explore through play and dialogue what it means to be part of a community and what their version of democracy looks like.
The registrations are made by completing the following form: https://eidosfounedation.typeform.com/to/tpcdcf9t
UNFINISED DEMOCRACY LIVE (19: 00–21: 30 | MNAR – Auditorium Hall)
The evening brings to the stage essential voices in a polarized society:
- David Wengrow -archaeologist and co-author of The Dawn of Everything, a radical humanistic reinterpretation of the history of humanity;
- Adam Michnik – symbol of democratic resistance in Eastern Europe;
- Elena Calistru – Civic activist, Funky Citizens founder, strong voice for public responsibility and democratic involvement;
- Diana Stafie – futuristic, specialized in strategic foresight, with a narrative approach to the future of democracy;
- Marta Lepart -activist for women's rights in Poland, in a harsh political climate;
- Yuri Sanches -Expert in geopolitics and data, which talks about confidence in a fragmented world
- Anca Suciu – journalist who brings clarity where the speech becomes foggy
The entrance is free, based on enrollment: https://eidosfoundation.typeform.com/democracrylive
Within the evening will be presented the results of the largest survey on democracy in Romania, conducted by Atlas Intel on a record sample, in partnership with politics at the minute. A clear radiography of trust, polarization and direction in which we go as a society – just a few days after the first round of elections.
Media partnership
