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Democracy Dialogues
FunderEuropean Commission
Funder Contribution €120,000.00
Funded underERASMUS+ | Partnerships for cooperation and exchanges of practices | Cooperation partnerships in adult education
Project code2023-1-PL01-KA220-ADU-000154257
Open Access mandatePublications: NoResearch data: No
Identifiers
Description
<< Background >>We applied for the Democracy Dialogues (DEMOS) project in response to shared challenges identified in our countries: Croatia, Finland, and Poland, such as the growing lack of dialogue, the deepening crisis of democracy, increasing social polarisation, and the declining capacity for constructive communication and conflict resolution. These issues are exacerbated by a widespread lack of both dialogue-related skills and the motivation to engage in conversations across divides. Many community leaders, activists, and influencers, despite their potential to shape public debate, often lack training in dialogue methods and adopt radical attitudes that can undermine the effectiveness of their efforts. This situation was further intensified by the pandemic, which exposed the vulnerability of our democracies to crises, contributed to the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories, and deepened social divisions in a time of great uncertainty. Additional burdens on democratic systems and social cohesion include climate change, inflation, and the deteriorating economic situation of many individuals. In this context, we saw the DEMOS project as an opportunity to strengthen democracy through dialogue.<< Objectives >>The main goal of the DEMOS project was to promote dialogue as an effective method for strengthening democracy, social cohesion, and active citizenship in the face of growing polarisation, misinformation, and democratic fatigue. We aimed to:1. Enhance the knowledge and practical skills of facilitators (and all people interested) in using dialogue as a tool for civic engagement and conflict resolution. 2. Develop and test an educational program - Democracy Dialogues - based on the experiences and methodologies of three dialogue experts from Croatia, Finland, and Poland. The program was designed to be flexible and applicable in various national contexts, while maintaining shared democratic values. 3. Create user-friendly tools (DEMOS Facilitator’s Guide, DEMOS Cards and DEMOS Package, e.g. scenario and communication materials) to support the delivery of high-quality, inclusive dialogue sessions. 4. Build and support a community of practice by establishing local and international groups of trained facilitators who can continue to lead and promote dialogue in their communities, both in-person and online. 5. Deepen understanding of the challenges facing democracy through research done in the countries involved in the project.<< Implementation >>1. At the outset, the partners exchanged existing dialogue methodologies, experiences, and approaches to identify common themes and practices. 2. We conducted research in each country to gain a deeper understanding of local democratic challenges, dialogue needs, and the experiences of facilitators and community leaders. The results of this research directly informed the content and design of the Democracy Frames / Dialogue Cards. 3. Based on the gathered insights, we collaborated with three experienced dialogue experts to create a comprehensive training program: the program combined theory and practical tools to help facilitators lead inclusive, structured conversations on democratic topics. 4. Two key resources were developed: - A Facilitator’s Guide for Democracy Dialogues – a framework for planning and conducting dialogue sessions. - Democracy Frames / Dialogue Cards – a flexible and engaging tool to support meaningful discussions. 5. We organised a training session for 24 facilitators (12 from Poland, 6 from Croatia and 6 from Finland). Participants were equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical tools. 6. The facilitators then organised and led sessions within their communities.<< Results >>- An educational program co-created with three experts, designed to build/upgrade dialogue skills. - The DEMOS Guide – a practical handbook supporting individuals in planning, organising, and moderating dialogue sessions on democratic topics. - The DEMOS Cards – a set of 71 topic cards (e.g. Education) based on research from three countries, designed to stimulate structured conversations around core democratic values, challenges, and perspectives. - Additional materials supporting facilitators, like a scenario of a session.- Training for 24 facilitators – individuals from Poland, Finland, and Croatia received training in dialogue methods and were equipped with tools for use in their communities. - Local and international dialogue events – led by the trained participants, these events engaged diverse community members in dialogue sessions both in person and online. - International cooperation and learning – partner organisations built long-term relationships and exchanged knowledge on dialogue practices and democratic challenges. - Increase in the visibility of dialogue as a democratic tool– through distribution, social media, and presentations, we reached broader audiences and promoted the use of dialogue.
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<< Background >>We applied for the Democracy Dialogues (DEMOS) project in response to shared challenges identified in our countries: Croatia, Finland, and Poland, such as the growing lack of dialogue, the deepening crisis of democracy, increasing social polarisation, and the declining capacity for constructive communication and conflict resolution. These issues are exacerbated by a widespread lack of both dialogue-related skills and the motivation to engage in conversations across divides. Many community leaders, activists, and influencers, despite their potential to shape public debate, often lack training in dialogue methods and adopt radical attitudes that can undermine the effectiveness of their efforts. This situation was further intensified by the pandemic, which exposed the vulnerability of our democracies to crises, contributed to the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories, and deepened social divisions in a time of great uncertainty. Additional burdens on democratic systems and social cohesion include climate change, inflation, and the deteriorating economic situation of many individuals. In this context, we saw the DEMOS project as an opportunity to strengthen democracy through dialogue.<< Objectives >>The main goal of the DEMOS project was to promote dialogue as an effective method for strengthening democracy, social cohesion, and active citizenship in the face of growing polarisation, misinformation, and democratic fatigue. We aimed to:1. Enhance the knowledge and practical skills of facilitators (and all people interested) in using dialogue as a tool for civic engagement and conflict resolution. 2. Develop and test an educational program - Democracy Dialogues - based on the experiences and methodologies of three dialogue experts from Croatia, Finland, and Poland. The program was designed to be flexible and applicable in various national contexts, while maintaining shared democratic values. 3. Create user-friendly tools (DEMOS Facilitator’s Guide, DEMOS Cards and DEMOS Package, e.g. scenario and communication materials) to support the delivery of high-quality, inclusive dialogue sessions. 4. Build and support a community of practice by establishing local and international groups of trained facilitators who can continue to lead and promote dialogue in their communities, both in-person and online. 5. Deepen understanding of the challenges facing democracy through research done in the countries involved in the project.<< Implementation >>1. At the outset, the partners exchanged existing dialogue methodologies, experiences, and approaches to identify common themes and practices. 2. We conducted research in each country to gain a deeper understanding of local democratic challenges, dialogue needs, and the experiences of facilitators and community leaders. The results of this research directly informed the content and design of the Democracy Frames / Dialogue Cards. 3. Based on the gathered insights, we collaborated with three experienced dialogue experts to create a comprehensive training program: the program combined theory and practical tools to help facilitators lead inclusive, structured conversations on democratic topics. 4. Two key resources were developed: - A Facilitator’s Guide for Democracy Dialogues – a framework for planning and conducting dialogue sessions. - Democracy Frames / Dialogue Cards – a flexible and engaging tool to support meaningful discussions. 5. We organised a training session for 24 facilitators (12 from Poland, 6 from Croatia and 6 from Finland). Participants were equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical tools. 6. The facilitators then organised and led sessions within their communities.<< Results >>- An educational program co-created with three experts, designed to build/upgrade dialogue skills. - The DEMOS Guide – a practical handbook supporting individuals in planning, organising, and moderating dialogue sessions on democratic topics. - The DEMOS Cards – a set of 71 topic cards (e.g. Education) based on research from three countries, designed to stimulate structured conversations around core democratic values, challenges, and perspectives. - Additional materials supporting facilitators, like a scenario of a session.- Training for 24 facilitators – individuals from Poland, Finland, and Croatia received training in dialogue methods and were equipped with tools for use in their communities. - Local and international dialogue events – led by the trained participants, these events engaged diverse community members in dialogue sessions both in person and online. - International cooperation and learning – partner organisations built long-term relationships and exchanged knowledge on dialogue practices and democratic challenges. - Increase in the visibility of dialogue as a democratic tool– through distribution, social media, and presentations, we reached broader audiences and promoted the use of dialogue.
