{"id":26164,"date":"2025-10-01T15:52:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T13:52:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hiil.org\/?p=26164"},"modified":"2025-10-01T15:56:30","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T13:56:30","slug":"democracy-drinks-reimagining-democracy-in-times-of-decline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hiil.org\/fr\/news\/democracy-drinks-reimagining-democracy-in-times-of-decline\/","title":{"rendered":"Democracy Drinks: Reimagining Democracy in Times of Decline"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cAutocrats are bold and unapologetic. Are we equally outspoken in our pride for democracy?\u201d With this question, Tijmen Rooseboom, Executive Director of the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), set the tone for an evening of reflection and debate during the latest edition of Democracy Drinks in The Hague, hosted by HiiL and moderated by our colleague Anne Colenbrander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation comes at a time when democracy is under significant strain. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit\u2019s Democracy Index<\/em>, 2024 marked democracy\u2019s lowest point since 2006. Despite half of the world\u2019s population heading to the polls, out of 167 countries assessed, 130 either regressed or stagnated. Today, only 45 percent of people live under democratic governance, while 40 percent live under authoritarian rule. Against this backdrop, the panel,\u00a0 Tijmen Rooseboom (NIMD<\/a>), Bas Bijlsma (Democratie Monitor<\/a>), and Hugo Knoppert (Kukura Organics<\/a>), explored the realities of democratic decline, the impact on societies, and the actions that can be taken to reverse the trend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shrinking Civic Space<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rooseboom highlighted how democratic erosion is often subtle but relentless: \u201cWe see the same pattern worldwide \u2014 restrictions on opposition parties, curbs on NGOs, and harassment of minorities, women\u2019s groups, and LGBTQI+ organizations. Step by step, civic space is closed off.\u201d Even so, authoritarian regimes rarely abandon the democratic label. \u201cThey still hold elections, still speak of transitions. Democracy is a powerful aspiration, even for those who undermine it,\u201d he noted. For Rooseboom, this contradiction is a call to action: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIf democracy remains the most desired system of governance, then why are its defenders often too modest?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Lessons from Home<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking closer to home, Bas Bijlsma brought insights from the Democratie Monitor, which tracks the state of Dutch democracy through 45 indicators. In June, their findings showed 18 indicators in the red \u2014 including rising intimidation of journalists and politicians. \u201cErosion is not something that only happens elsewhere,\u201d Bijlsma stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIn the Netherlands, we see unconstitutional proposals entering mainstream debate and polarisation fueling distrust. Our democracy is resilient, but not immune.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, he emphasised the importance of perspective: \u201cDespair can be dangerous. We must remain vigilant without giving into fatalism. Democracy has always been a system under pressure, but it is also one that can adapt and renew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Role of Business<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation then turned to the role of the private sector. Hugo Knoppert, co-founder of Kukura Organics in Zimbabwe, shared how political instability directly affects livelihoods. His social enterprise partners with over 500 women farmers to cultivate indigenous crops such as the Kalahari melon, with a clear focus on empowerment rather than quick profit. \u201cWe do a lot of things that don\u2019t make sense from a business perspective,\u201d Knoppert acknowledged, noting that their decentralized approach means they \u201ccan never compete on price\u201d with larger competitors. Yet the impact of Kukura\u2019s work is transformative: women once dismissed as \u201cuseless\u201d now generate income, send their children to school, and organise collectively. \u201cWhen women farmers thrive, communities thrive,\u201d Knoppert reflected. \u201cThat\u2019s democracy in practice\u2014people gaining agency and dignity in their everyday lives. This is how we create both monetary and social profit\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Building Collective Resilience<\/strong>
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What emerged from the discussion was clear: democratic decline is real, but not irreversible. The panelists underscored three urgent imperatives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n