- Description
A group of 18 foundations have set up a €4 million fund to support civil society and improve the public discourse Liberal democracies in the European Union have been under stress over the past few years, at both national and regional level. Citizens are insecure about their future, reeling from socio-economic, cultural, generational and technological change, and anxious about the apparent incapacity of European and national governments to solve these problems. It makes them doubt the ability not just of the European Union but also national governments and the democratic system in general, to meet their needs and serve their interests. Among the results are the rise of authoritarian populist parties, Brexit, a more and more toxic debate around 'otherness', citizens not making their voices heard in an organized way and disengaging from democratic processes. Such challenges are evidence that democracy requires constant investment. Alliance issue: Philanthropy's Developers; June 2018, Volume 23, Number 2.