For the sixth time, the Athens Democracy Forum and Costa Navarino are co-organizing a three-day symposium focusing on issues surrounding democracy. The event will take place from October 1st to 3rd, and will include many interesting discussions and authentic cultural experiences. 

This year’s event will feature – in person or online – internationally renowned speakers such as the artist Ai Weiwei, the historian Bettany Hughes, the writer Elif Shafak, the journalist and author Maria Ressa, and UNESCO’s former director-general Irina Bokova. The discussions will be moderated by Patrick Healy, Deputy Editor of New York Times Opinion, and Steven Erlanger, Chief European Diplomatic Correspondent of the New York Times. 

Speakers will be called upon to answer questions such as whether democracy can be healed or renewed by exploring Western and Eastern approaches to spirituality and understanding their commonalities and differences. Participants will consider how we might build more resilient democratic societies by looking back to the ancient philosophers of both the East and the West. 

The discussions will be enriched by book readings, peripatetic philosophical exchanges, and yoga classes, all against the backdrop of the uniquely beautiful Messinian countryside, at The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort. 

The three-day symposium is part of the Athens Democracy Forum, organized by the Democracy & Culture Foundation in collaboration with the New York Times and now in its 9th year; the Athens events of the forum will run from September 29th to October 1st. The Athens Democracy Forum takes place under the auspices of His Excellency the President of the Hellenic Republic, and operates with the support of the United Nations Secretary-General. The Athens Democracy Forum brings together international figures from politics, business, non-profit organizations and other fields to seek out real solutions to the most pressing issues affecting democracy. 

To find out more about the symposium click here.

For the full schedule of the ADF click here.