The Open Estonia Foundation is organizing- the 9th Open Society Forum

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The Open Estonia Foundation is organizing

the 9th Open Society Forum

“Democracy in Europe–in America–in the World”

to be held in Tallinn in April 23, 2004 at the Hotel Olympia

In 1996 the Board of Directors of the Open Estonia Foundation (OEF) decided to establish the tradition of open society forums to discuss issues that on one hand affect Estonian society and on the other, are global in essence. Over the course of years open society forums have focused on issues like values of open societies, tolerance and trust, public policy and civil society, globalization, etc.

The 9th Open Society Forum will concentrate on the issue of future of democracy. The 20th century has sometimes been referred to as “The Democratic Century.” Since the 1950s the number of democratic states has more than doubled, and a corresponding number of dictators have been forced to resign. However, people of the world are more than ever worried about the health of democracy. Recent events have placed traditional transatlantic alliances and supranational institutions under intense scrutiny and challenge. Although America and Europe have historically shared common interests as well as common values, the now emerging disagreements over major policy issues seem irreconcilable.

One of the emerging problems of democracy within the EU is the issue of federalism. Might this mean that the problems of the EU will be increasingly similar to those of the U.S.? Should the EU eventually model itself more closely on the U.S.? Would such an EU be able to mitigate international conflicts in which the U.S. government chooses to act as an alleged guardian of democracy? Or is it inevitably going to be facing the same problems as the U.S.? Finally, as recipients of American help in the past, are Europeans going to have to support American democracy in its internal problems of today? How will the current transatlantic tensions develop; what will be their effect on multilateral cooperation, their impact on political and security arrangements in Europe and elsewhere, and their implications for global trade and economic development? How can the EU look at other international examples such as the United States in trying to engender and foster a democratic state of affairs in its own orbit? What lessons can the EU learn from the US and what it should avoid?

The speakers of the 9th Open Society Forum are Professor John Keane from Center for the Study of Democracy (London), Paul Berman from World Policy Institute, MP Toomas- Hendrik Ilves, and Professor Rein Raud, University of Helsinki, Estonian Institute of Humanities.

Should your be interested in participating in the Forum, please return the registration form by April 8, 2004 by e-mail to kristi@oef.org.ee or by fax: +372 631 37 96.

For more information: Kristi Lüüde kristi@oef.org.ee, phone: + 372 631 37 91