The context

Current democratic institutions and their design are challenged by various phenomena, e.g. radical right-wing populists in power, rising distrust of citizens, fake news, decline in involvement in electoral politics, but also digitalisation or ad hoc social movements. Young people are especially concerned as many of them grow up in a fully digitalised world, get politically engaged beyond institutions or are the target of manipulation and disinformation.

“Developing new extra-electoral mechanisms and high standards for democratic participatory processes seem to be the best way to respond credibly to the demand of citizens, especially youth, to be more regularly involved in public decision-making”, asserts Katarzyna Klimowicz, expert in democratic innovations. More inclusive and deliberative ways of decision-making are particularly needed to avoid the bubbles of social networks and populist instrumentalization of social divides”.

The project

The project DIYW (Democratic Innovations in Youth Work) is about how democracies could function in the future and which capacities do young people need to participate in shaping this future. It aims at supporting them in becoming more active, critical and directly involved citizens by developing their democratic skills and encouraging critical thinking of youth towards their involvement in decision-making processes, digital and direct democracy as well as the risks of populist instrumentalization. The project strives to increase their awareness of already existing opportunities that Democratic Innovations bring not only for their own extra-electoral engagement in the democratic life but in general for a more participative and inclusive society.