Deep discussions

This was the question driving the discussion in the Global Forum’s third session:

Is direct democracy a #humanrightExternal link? #globfor16External link #deardemocracyExternal link #HHRRExternal link #democracyExternal link

— OIDP (@oidpoidp) November 17, 2016External link

Panelists took the opportunity to delve deep into the human impulses behind democracy and wanting to participate. 

“People don’t want to replace those in power, this isn’t their major impulse,” said Fernando Pindado of Spain’s Catalunya region (Barcelona). “People are not tired of not having power, but of not being able to be themselves.” 

In South Korea, Jung-Ok Lee does view direct democracy as a sort of right, since she says that it’s directly linked to protesting. In her country, she finds that “our only form of direct democracy is going out into the streets”. 

Jung-Ok Lee: Consumerism overrides democracy: We must extend globalisation to field of #humanrightsExternal link & democracy!!#globfor16External link #deardemocracyExternal link

— Democracy Intl (@democracy_intl) November 17, 2016External link

And local Koldo Santiago of Donostia/San Sebastian gave an impassioned speech about how the motivations for direct democracy require us to look inward. 

“Do we want direct democracy for better democracy, or more power?” he challenged. 

“Why does representative democracy disappoint us? How can direct democracy correct that?”

And, for the voters who chose the new American president last week, “What is there of Donald Trump in me? What’s flourishing inside ourselves?”

Santiago’s speech can be viewed in English here.External link