Professor Oliver Escobar leads BR-UKs work package on public engagement and stakeholder involvement and we are delighted to share information about Oliver's inaugural lecture entitled "Democracy as if the future mattered: Can democratic innovation change the world?" We are undergoing an unprecedented global democratic recession, but also a period of democratic innovation. What is at the heart of this apparent contradiction? Can democracy evolve to improve the prospect of desirable futures for people and planet?The world faces social, political, economic and ecological crises, and there is doubt that traditional forms of democratic governance can cope or even survive. In this context, what can the field of democratic innovation offer to the task of sociopolitical reimagining and change? The field is advancing globally, based on the premise that the challenges of our time require mobilising the collective intelligence and capabilities of citizens and communities. In this inaugural lecture, Oliver will offer a critical but optimistic take on democratic innovation. He will argue that the next decade will be crucial for the future of democracy and for the democracy of the future. And that we all have a role to play. Register to attend in person here: Inaugural lecture: Professor Oliver Escobar Tickets, Wed, Apr 2, 2025 at 5:15 PM | Eventbrite Publication date 01 Mar, 2025
