• 2014-07-08

New Debate: "Civil society in defense of democratic values"

The Centre for Democracy and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation have organised a debate entitled "Civil society in defence of democratic values" within the framework of the Democratic and Political Forum.

The Centre for Democracy and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation have organised a debate entitled "Civil society in defence of democratic values" within the framework of the Democratic and Political Forum. The individual, the state and society are all permanent participants in the history of our civilisation, who both impede on and at the same time complement each other. The freedoms and rights of each individual are dependent upon the strength of a society in curbing the autocracy of the state. 

Since the introduction of the multiparty system and the initiation of the democratisation of Serbian society, civil society began its development largely as an alternative channel to an authoritarian regime. Further development of democracy in Serbia inevitably involves the participation of civil society and its contribution to the political process that takes place on a daily basis. Without the clear participation of civil society the exchange of arguments and constructive debates, which is the basis of every democratic process, democratic development is abandoned and left in its wake is irreparable damage to the society as a whole. 

What we would like to achieve with the organisation of this debate is to pose the following: to what degree does civil society contribute to democratic processes in Serbia?  As well as to consider to what extent can the public, the academic community, the media and NGOs aid in the development of democracy.