Date: Monday August 11th
Time: 13:00 – 13:50
Venue: Menneskerettighetsteltet at Langbrygga during Arendalsuka.
What may Europe learn from the Polish public dialogue movement?
Poland is emerging as a new European power – both militarily and economically.
In recent years, several organisations from the strong and well-organized civil society in Poland have approached Norwegian institutions such as the Nansen Peace Center and The European Wergeland Centre (EWC) to gain knowledge and expertise for the development of democratic preparedness. The result is an impressive public dialogue movement with strong ties to neighboring Ukraine, due to the influx of refugees. A promising social model for democratic preparedness that also Norway and other European countries may learn from and be inspired by.
PARTICIPANTS:
Øystein Bø | Ambassador Norway’s Embassy in Poland
Ingrid Aspelund | CEO the European Wergeland Center
Natalia Kertyczak | Education for Democracy Foundation (FED)
Toastmaster: Christiane Seehausen | Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue
In the years to come, Poland will receive 30 percent of Norwegian EEA funds – totaling 83 million Euros. Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue and the European Wergeland Center have been deeply involved in Polish civil society for many years, and are now stepping up their commitment to strengthening democratic preparedness in both Poland and neighboring Ukraine.
Poland – the most populous of the new EU countries in Eastern Europe – is the world’s second largest recipient of Ukrainian refugees. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, 1.4 million people have fled to neighboring Poland. The impressive humanitarian effort by Poland also creates friction and conflicts, which civil society is actively working to transform into constructive community building. One of the methods used to create increased political self-confidence is public dialogue developed by Norwegian peace and human rights organizations.
Public dialogue have quickly gained enormous popularity and support in Poland – and appear as a model for building democratic preparedness that other Europeaen countries may also learn from in a time of rapidly increasing polarization.