From 7-10 October 2026 the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy will take place in Gaborone, Botswana. The Global Forum, a free and public event, is the world’s largest gathering devoted to issues of direct democracy and citizen participation.
Please use this form to send in your proposal for the Global Forum programme, both for presentations and for workshops focussing on today’s challenges to democracy, and offering better visions of the democratic future.
If you are looking simply to register for the Forum, you should do so here.
We are particularly interested in proposals concerning:
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Enhancing democracy through local institutions
- The kgotla system: Tradition meets democratic innovation
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Building strong institutions and making democracy more democratic
- Constitutional reform and grassroots policy-making
- Youth and intergenerational democracy
- People power for the planet
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Democracy’s never-ending challenges: Resources and regional cooperation
- Natural resources, diamonds, and democratic governance
- Regional integration and democratic cooperation
You can read about the thematic focus we are aiming for in detail here. The Global Forum is not immune to the global funding pressures. In order to keep the conference free for those who want to attend, this year we'll have a simplified and streamlined programme that reduces the pressure on us as organisers. Unfortunately, this means we will select less sessions. The programme committee will give priority to those sessions that align fully with the thematic focus set out and of course our overarching question of direct and participatory democracy.
We are open to proposals from anyone—scholars, election officials, journalists, activists, NGOs, governments of all levels, businesses, and everyday people.
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