2017 – The New Nature of Democracy

The New Nature of Democracy will have three panel discussions each focused on a different aspect of this problem. Government for the People? will be a roundtable discussion focusing on the development of populism outside of North America and Western Europe. Is the rise of populism a new phenomenon around the globe, or are these Western movements merely reflections of trends that already existed in other parts of the world. This conversation will be led by researchers and academics with regional specializations from Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

The Democratic-Generational Divide will be a panel discussion consisting of graduate students from the Munk School and associated faculties which try to identify where to situate youth within the context of this rise in populism. From identity politics to economic opportunities, there is clearly an ideological divide between the young and the old. This panel will explore what elements of this divide are unique, what values are intransigent, and where there may be an opportunity to bridge the gap.

Populism at the Ballot Box will focus on how elections function in the 21st century. What strategies have made recent populist style campaigns successful, or are these successes themselves overblown? And what implications might this have in Canada, and around the globe? This panel will consist of members of the media, democratic strategists, and public opinion researchers who can provide practical insights into how and why populism translates into success at the polls.

The conference will conclude with a keynote address which will examine the key features of global democracy today and provide some insights into what shape the future might take for advocates of democracy.