Unboxing Democracy: Because One Size Never Fits All
In this presentation, I explore the challenges of strengthening democracy in unstable regions. While democracy is widely seen as a positive force, there’s no single ”one-size-fits-all” model for how it should work. My research looks at what happens when stable countries like Sweden try to share their version of democracy with other nations where democracy doesn’t exist or isn’t working. Through interviews with activists, community leaders, politicians, and ordinary citizens, I find that local voices and values are often overlooked, which can lead to resistance and even unrest.
My findings show that rather than imposing external solutions, the better approach is to ask: What do you need? How can we help? The key to building a more stable and democratic world is listening to the people affected and supporting their vision for governance and change. If we want to strengthen democracy globally, we must recognise the importance of inclusivity and local input to create lasting solutions.
Contact
Darcy Thompson
Lund University, the Division of Human Rights Studies, Faculties of Humanities and Theology
E-post: [email protected]
