Stories

Image by Democracy International of citizens participating in the European Citizens' Panel
European Union
€1.8 Trillion Through the Eyes of 150 Europeans
How would you allocate €1.8 trillion and shape the future of Europe for the next seven years? Defence? Digitalisation? Democracy? That’s exactly what 150 randomly selected citizens were asked when they gathered for the latest...
The United Nations
A call to democratic imagination: why we need Global Citizens’ Assemblies
The world is at a turning point. As crises mount — from climate breakdown to technological disruption and growing authoritarianism — our systems of global governance are not stepping up to the task. We are trying to solve 21st-...
BONN AND COLOGNE
EVENT: What Can We Learn From Latin America?
Two late April events in neighbouring German cities examine democracy from Brazil to Ecuador.
REASI (KASHMIR)
ASIA DEMOCRACY CHRONICLES: The High Costs of India's Local Projects...
Questions about the Infrastructure Being Built Since Kashmir Lost Autonomous Status in 2019
THE DEMOCRACY COLUMN
The Real US President Is Subnational
A president behaves like a local bully. A governor behaves like a president.
Ecuador
Yasuní: When Citizens Vote – Governments Must Listen
Ecuador voted. The people spoke. But the government is stalling.  There are important new updates to the...
Photo by Democracy International, Daniela Vancic speaking in a workshop during ECI Day
European Union
Here Be Europeans: What We Learned at ECI Day 2025
It is the most wonderful time of the year…and it’s not Christmas! There’s one special day a year that brings...
Hurricane Katrina aftermath.
LOS ANGELES AND NEW ORLEANS
ZÓCALO: To Today's Kids: How I Survived My City's Destruction
A letter from a survivor of Hurricane Katrina to the children of Los Angeles.
The picture depicts Yoshito Kawakado, who works for Town Creator Corporation, that handles programming at the public market.
ITOMAN, OKINAWA
LOCAL SNAPSHOTS Yoshi Kawakado, Convener
Bringing together Itoman City in Its public market.
NARSARSUAQ
Greenland's Independence Is a Matter of Local Democracy
In Advance of April 1 Local Elections, Greenland Contemplates Self-Governance
Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
NEWSLETTER
Singing to Interrupt in Tokyo; Cascais Congrats; Bridges to Belem
ALSO: The U.S. Crisis; Video from Ecuador to Colorado, New Events and Serious Fun
Rakhine (Myanmar)
ASIA DEMOCRACY CHRONICLES: The 'Little' Army That Could
The Arakan Army is close to establishing local sovereignty in Rakhine province.