Democracy in Flux: Navigating Polarization and Change
Polarization is reshaping societies around the world, fracturing trust, weakening civic culture, and making collaboration across differences increasingly difficult. Yet in many places, democracy is not collapsing, it is shifting in more subtle and complex ways, creating new challenges for those working to drive social change within it.
This discussion explores how we can build credible, long-term alternatives to populism by strengthening democratic culture, fostering inclusion, and rebuilding trust across lines of difference. What does it take to collaborate across political, ideological, and cultural divides? How can empathetic leadership and deliberative approaches help create shared understanding in increasingly fragmented societies?
Focusing on the realities of working within democracies that are in flux, this session invites participants to reflect on how to build movements, influence policy, and sustain impact when the rules of engagement are constantly evolving. Together, we will explore how to move from polarization toward more resilient, inclusive, and participatory democratic systems.
Speakers
David McNair is Managing Director at ONE Data, focused on improving decision-making through better public data systems.
Virginia Atkinson is Senior Global Inclusion Advisor at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, advancing disability inclusion and democratic participation globally.
Lucy Reid is Chief Strategy & Creative Officer at DemocracyNext, advancing democratic innovation through citizens’ assemblies and shared power.
Andhyta Firselly Utami is Founder & Chief Experiment Officer of Think Policy Indonesia at Think Policy Indonesia, leading interdisciplinary approaches to strengthen policymaking and climate governance ecosystems.
Discussion Questions
How is polarization changing the way democracy functions, and what does that mean for those working within it?
What does it take to build trust and collaborate across political, ideological, and cultural divides?
What approaches, such as deliberative democracy or empathetic leadership, show promise in rebuilding shared understanding?
What would a credible, long-term alternative to populism look like in practice?
Location & access
Accessibility matters deeply to us, and we do our best to choose spaces that reflect that. That said, some of our Oxford venues are in historic buildings without lifts. This room is unfortunately not accessible for wheelchair users, those with mobility challenges, or anyone needing step-free access.