Democracy cannot be taken for granted

For the youth in Norway, democracy may sometimes feel like something natural and permanent. For young Ukrainians, democracy has a much more immediate and existential meaning.

Ukraine is fighting for its freedom, sovereignty and democratic future in the face of Russia’s full-scale war. At the same time, young people in Norway are growing up in a Europe where war, disinformation, political polarisation and attacks on democratic institutions remind us that democracy must never be regarded as guaranteed.

The Youth Steering Group believes that these different experiences provide an important basis for learning from each other.

What can Norway learn from Ukraine? What can Ukraine learn from Norway? And what can young people in both countries contribute to the future of democracy?

A broad dialogue

The youth project group wants the report to be based on a broad range of perspectives.

The youth have already received positive responses from Ukraine, including from Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk and the Directorate for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration under the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

These contributions will provide important perspectives on democracy, human rights, civic participation and Ukraine’s European and democratic future.

The youth project group has also invited the political parties represented in the Norwegian Parliament to participate in a dialogue and contribute their perspectives to the report. So far, however, the young people have unfortunately not received responses from the Norwegian political parties.

The invitation remains open.

The youth believe that a report about the future of democracy should include voices from across the democratic spectrum.

The structure of the first draft

The Youth Steering Group has agreed that the first draft will address nine central areas:

Introduction: Why Democracy Matters

1. Democracy in Norway and Ukraine Today
How are our democracies functioning today? What are their strengths, challenges and differences?

2. Youth Participation and Civic Engagement
How can young people participate meaningfully in democratic processes – and how can society ensure that their voices are heard?

3. Human Rights and Human Dignity
Why are human rights and human dignity fundamental to democracy, and what happens when they are threatened?

4. Transparency, Accountability and the Fight Against Corruption
How can democratic societies build trust through openness, accountability and strong institutions?

5. Freedom of Expression and Independent Media
Why are free speech, independent journalism and access to reliable information essential to democracy?

6. Peace, Security and Democratic Resilience
How can democracies protect themselves against war, authoritarianism, disinformation and other threats?

7. The Role of Education, Culture and Music in Democracy
How can schools, culture and music strengthen democratic values, dialogue, understanding and solidarity?

8. Our Shared Vision for the Future
What kind of democratic societies do young people in Norway and Ukraine want to build?

9. Recommendations from the Youth of Norway and Ukraine
What concrete actions do young people believe governments, institutions, schools and civil society should take?

From a report to a democratic process

The young people emphasise that the first draft is not intended to be the final answer.

It is a starting point for dialogue.

Once the first draft has been prepared, the youth project group wants to invite a broad group of contributors to review the document, challenge its conclusions, provide new perspectives and suggest improvements.

The objective is to make the report as relevant, balanced and constructive as possible.

This means involving young people, educators, researchers, civil society organisations, journalists, artists, politicians, public institutions and other people with experience and knowledge relevant to the different themes.

The process itself is therefore an important part of the project.

Democracy is not only something we write about. Democracy is something we practise.

Young people taking responsibility

The initiative is part of the wider Youth Music for Peace, Freedom and Democracy project, where young people from Norway and Ukraine meet through music, dialogue and democratic participation.

The democracy report represents another important dimension of that work.

Music can bring people together. Dialogue can build understanding. Education can provide knowledge. But democracy requires something more: people who are willing to participate, listen to others, stand up for fundamental rights and take responsibility for the society they want to live in.

That is precisely what the young people are now doing.

They are asking difficult questions about the present – and, perhaps even more importantly, they are taking responsibility for the future.

An invitation to contribute

The Youth Steering Group wants the report to become a shared democratic project.

We therefore invite individuals and organisations in Norway and Ukraine – and beyond – who have relevant knowledge, experience or perspectives to contribute to the process.

The young people are particularly interested in perspectives that can help them understand both the challenges facing democracy today and the opportunities to strengthen democracy for future generations.

The first draft will be developed on the basis of the nine themes above. It will then be opened for broader dialogue and contributions.

Because the question at the heart of the project belongs to all of us:

What kind of democracy do we want to leave to the next generation?

And perhaps even more importantly:

What are we willing to do today to make sure that democracy is still strong tomorrow?

The young people of Norway and Ukraine have started their work.

Now they invite others to join them.

Democracy – Now and in the Future is being developed as part of the Youth Music for Peace, Freedom and Democracy initiative led by Support to the people of Ukraine (S2pU).