As part of this year’s Geneva Republic Week, George A. Papandreou participated as a keynote speaker at a special event organized by Albert Hirschman Center of Geneva Graduate Institute, in collaboration with the local Geneva Government on “Can Democracy Survive?”

In his speech, he emphasized that “democracy was born at a time when humanity chose dialogue instead of enforcement – words instead of weapons.”
Referring to Homer and the Iliad, he stressed that the ancient Greeks, through the awareness of the consequences of rage and violence, sought a new way of coexistence: participation, logic and dialogue.

As he noted, democracy was “the first major moral and political innovation of conflict management without violence”.

Analyzing the modern crisis of democracy, George Papandreou pointed out that the problem is not the disagreements, but the loss of creative disagreement:
“The crisis of our time is not that we disagree. It is that we have lost the tools of dialogue, trust and common sense. “
The loss of these virtues, he stressed, leads to the erosion of institutions and the reappearance of authoritarian tendencies.
“Authoritarianism is not the cause of the decline of democracy – it is its result,” he said.

Referring to the roots of the crisis, he talked about the shift of power by citizens to the centers of economic and technological power:
“Power has escaped the municipality. Wealth has become power – and inequality into injustice. When democracy does not produce justice, it generates anger. And anger is the fertilizer of populism and polarization. “

Proposing a new vision of “radical democracy” – not extreme, but rooted in the values ​​of participation, accountability and equality – Giorgos Papandreou called for a rebirth of democracy through modern tools:

• Participatory and consultant bodies of citizens at local and European level.
• Democratization of the economy, through cooperative and community regimens.
• Democratic regulation of digital platforms, for the restoration of the public sphere of dialogue.
• Citizen training, with emphasis on cultivating morality, critical thinking and solidarity.

“Democracy does not defend weapons,” he said.

“She defends herself through the active involvement of citizens, social justice and respect.”

In closing, he warned of the “authoritarian manuals” that exploit fear, poverty and confusion, and presented the “Citizen’s Antidot” – transparency, empathy, cooperation and above all hope:

“The era of insecurity can become a Renaissance era – if we learn to trust each other again.”

His speech was a call for a new European and global regeneration of democracy-a democracy of not fear and control, but co-creation, participation and hope.

On the sidelines of the events, George A. Papandreou visited the headquarters of the World Labor Organization (ILO), where he met with General Manager Gilbert F. Houngbo. They discussed the global challenges that influence the labor rights and the future of work, as well as the formation of a new regulatory framework for the distortions caused by Platform Economy. They also exchanged views on the need to protect fundamental human rights in the workplace internationally.

He then visited the historic Hôtel-de-Ville of Geneva, where the local government and parliament meet, and met with Parliament Secretary General, Dr. Laurent Koellier. He was guided to the Alabama Hall, where the first international arbitration was held – the “Alabama case” – and the first Geneva Declaration of the Warfare Protects, which led to the creation of the Red Cross, was signed.

A special moment of the visit was the reference to the bust of John Kapodistrias, a donation of Hellenism, which symbolizes the centuries -long philhellenic tradition of Geneva and the contribution of Kapodistrias to the unity and independence of Switzerland, as well as the close bonds of Friendship of Greece.

George Papandreou also had meetings at the offices of the World Economic Forum, where he was informed by Managing Director Maroun Kairouz and Head of Europe & Eurasia Andrew Caruana Galizia, as well as by executives of Greek descent, for current forum initiatives in themes and geographical fields.

Finally, under his capacity as President of the Olympic Truce Center, he had a meeting with the President of the International Olympic Committee, Kristy Coventry, with the aim of planning the educational activities of the Center for the promotion of the peaceful coexistence and the Olympics and the Olympic Games and the Olympic Games. Los Angeles Games 2028.