Success of the 2024 Biennial of Thought: More than 400 people attended the debates on democracy and the future at the Canòdrom

October 14, 2024

The European Capital of Democracy organizes four round tables focused on historical memory, sustainability, social movements, and the challenges of modern democracy

On April 10 and 11, the Canòdrom – Barcelona’s Digital and Democratic Innovation Center hosted four debates organized by the European Capital of Democracy as part of the 2024 Biennial of Thought. More than 400 people participated, solidifying the event as a resounding success.

Democracy and memory: echoes of a combative past

The first round table addressed Barcelona's democratic history in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period marked by the working-class struggle for fundamental rights. What role did freethinkers, spiritualists, and civil rights movements play, and what about the organizational traditions of popular athenaeums or grassroots unionism? These were some of the testimonies shared.

Dolors Marín, a historian specializing in libertarian movements, emphasized the importance of recovering collective memory: “My 16-year-old students don’t know the difference between a political party and a union, and I tell them: but this year you will start working, how will you make sure you’re not exploited? We have undergone a transition where historical acculturation regarding democracy has been brutal.” For his part, Chris Ealham, a historian specializing in anarcho-syndicalism, highlighted the key role of the La Canadiense strike: "The success of the mobilization was possible thanks to the connection between shop stewards and communities, something we must remember in times of social crises." The Director of Participation and Democratic Innovation of the City Council of Barcelona, Arnau Monterde, who moderated the panel, explained: "It is urgent to think and rethink democracy. Barcelona has been innovating for decades in the tradition of struggle, and we must reclaim this past more. It is interesting to recover the traditions and the richness we inherit."

Video DEBATE 1

Water and democracy: challenges of a common good

Sustainability was the focus of the second round table, where Violeta Cabello and Katie Meehan, researchers on water governance, discussed the management of this shared and finite common good in a context of drought. “We must think of alternatives to this scarcity, which also occurs globally in many regions, and not only consider the Eurocentric viewpoint,” stated Hug March, professor, researcher, and moderator of the round table, right at the outset. “Water struggles reflect social inequalities,” said Meehan, emphasizing the climate crisis as a driver of conflict, where water becomes a fundamental challenge for the future. Cabello added that the challenge is not only technical but also political: "We can create scarcity by increasing demand, which is why new public policies that prioritize equity in its use are needed."

Video DEBATE 2

Should democracy be defended?

This round table focused on the dilemma of defending democracy in the face of the rise of fascism and the increase in hate speech. Based on the premise that it seems we only have to "defend" rather than transform, the discussion revolved around whether we are trapped in a trap where the political forces that threaten democracy end up taking the most prominence. Amador Fernández-Savater reflected on the commodification of life and politics, questioning whether there is space to reimagine new forms of society, while Claudia Delso advocated for the need to renew democracy to integrate new subjectivities and better connect with citizens' discontent. It was highlighted how the far-right is able to connect with frustrations generated by the very system it seems to protect, which opens the door to a discussion on the urgent need to reinvent democratic mechanisms.

Video DEBATE 3

Social movements and participatory democracy

The final interventions were dedicated to exploring the role of social movements as agents of change and how they can transform democracy from the grassroots. Movements are living actors in cities, and their action is a lever that not only protests but also proposes, opening hybrid spaces between institutional representation and collective self-organization. Thus, Donatella Della Porta highlighted how social movements have evolved in their forms of organization and action, adapting to new social conflicts, while Carme Arcarazo emphasized the work of the Tenants' Union, a practical example of activism that directly impacts urban and social policies. The discussion also covered the risks and challenges that these movements will face in the coming decades, including their ability to defend collective rights in an increasingly polarized context.

Video DEBATE 4

These four sessions reflected the importance of approaching democracy from various perspectives, an indisputable success for the 2024 Biennial of Thought and the European Capital of Democracy, which has successfully brought together reflections from prestigious experts with concerns shared by an active and participatory citizenry.