THE WORLD FORUM

BERLIN - Bombings, killings and an invasion of a democratic country by a nuclear superpower: Putin’s war against Ukraine is the end result of the world’s appeasement with states that have abandoned democracy and human rights. History is in danger of repeating itself: Hitler took the Rhineland back against international treaties like Russia and China did with Crimea and Hong Kong; the annexation of Austria is similar to what Russia and China have announced they wish to do with Ukraine and Taiwan.

The world has been facing a global democratic recession since 2008. Its overall score for democracy fell to a record low of 5.28 out of 10 according to a study released in 2022 by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Most countries are not democratic. Several authoritarian countries have become more effective than democratic countries - with an increase of wages in China of 1200 percent in 20 years as an example.

The promise of a better life through democracy is not valid anymore - it depends on how efficient and well a democracy works.

The World Forum questions the status quo, intends to disrupt conventional stagnation and aims to unite leaders from politics, civil society, and culture to engage in the ideas and practices for a better world through fundamental change. The World Forum serves as a platform where humankind’s future is reshaped by elaborating new approaches, promoting breakthrough ideas and technologies, facilitating investments and creating modern legislation, which pave the way to progress on tech, AI, social media, democracy, peace, justice, freedom, and the survival of the human race. In an era where advancements in AI and technology present unique opportunities but also existential threats, we intend to support innovation as well as create legislation and new governing bodies, which are critical for society’s democratic future, such as The Alliance of Democratic Nations as well as The World Council on AI & Social Media.

A major topic is how to reinvent democracy in the digital age? Our Philosophers Panel discussed at the panel “Why Democracy” not only how to protect the right to vote for every citizen, but also controversial ideas of giving educated voters, who can answer questions on the ballot correctly, more votes, as well as limitations of voting by the constitution, which may prevent an irrational “rule of the mob” as recent statistics confirm Plato’s and Sigmund Freud’s warning that 80-90% percent of humans can be manipulated to irrational decisions, harmful behaviour and voting. “Plato warned us that democracy has problems because people largely are irrational and they can easily be persuaded and manipulated by demagogues who give them false appearances,” said the Finnish philosopher Elisa Aaltola. If democracy shall work, the division of powers and universal human rights must be guaranteed by the constitution as well as by an alert society with democratic discourse in daily life and media. Nobel laureate Maria Ressa sees social media as a crucial element: “Without (proven) facts, there is no truth. Without truth, there is no democracy.”

The World Forum is held by the Cinema for Peace Foundation and partners. For the past two decades, the Cinema for Peace Foundation has reached over one billion people, initiated more than 20 films, helped raise more than $10 million for humanitarian efforts with the involvement of over a hundred Academy Award-winning artists; more than 30 heads of states, 100 ministers and elected officials; as well as icons of humankind and a better future such as Nelson Mandela, The Dalai Lama, Muhammad Ali, and Mikhail Gorbachev. The Cinema for Peace Foundation has also contributed to protecting the lives and freedoms of dissidents such as Alexei Navalny, Ai Weiwei, Pussy Riot, and lesser-known victims such as the Burmese comedian Zarganar, whose release from prison was triggered by a documentary film initiated by The Cinema for Peace Foundation. The World Forum utilizes documentary films containing facts and evidence to inspire a discussion on some of the world’s most pressing problems.