2002-10-01

In the second half of the 20th century we have seen an impressive advancement of democracy in all fields of human activity. 50 countries moved from authoritarian military rule to democratically elected governments. Private enterprise – from small local businesses to major transnational companies – have likewise moved towards democracy. Information and communication technologies and knowledge-based economy make authoritarian and hierarchical organizations uncompetitive. Corporate citizenship and corporate social responsibility have become mainstream concepts. NGO’s have become increasingly important actors in the fabric of society/civilization. Learning and education have become the most important prerequisite for economic, cultural, and democratic development.

The advancement of democracy and education has been indispensable for the immense scientific and technological advances we have experienced. Together they are responsible for the economic growth and globalization, which have created means that make a decent life for all human beings achievable.

Now the advancement of democracy appears to have stalled. Many new democracies fail to consolidate and deepen their first steps towards democracy. Old democracies waver in the face of multicultural challenges, insecurity because of economic change and short-sighted responses to terrorism. Enterprises hesitate to exploit the full potentials of the combination of information- and communications technologies, democratic and transparent organization, multicultural resources and global markets.

Accelerated globalization and technological change have challenged the established structures of governance upon which we depend. Established welfare states have increasing difficulties in maintaining themselves. The growing rift between the rich and poor in the world create bitterness and conflict. We experience terrorism and conflict that threaten to destroy the potentials for a better world. We even see education used as a means to fight democracy. The economic climate is negative and extremely sensitive. The world experiences a governance vacuum.

Accelerated globalization and technological change have also created a connectedness unseen in world-history and world culture until now. This requires us to focus not only on formal aspects of democratic governance, but also more concretely on how we as humans learn to live together accepting diversity as a prerequisite of a learning democratic consciousness.

How do we learn democracy at all levels from the local to the global? How do we overcome our differences? The key is education and democracy. How do we learn to activate the wealth of democratic and educational practices and methods that are already “out there”? How do we continue to motivate and initiate innovative democratic and educational practices in different cultures and religions? How do we continue to develop the concept of democracy itself as a worldwide learning process at multiple levels – how do we develop the concept of multilayered democracy?