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Biden’s ‘Summit for Democracy’ needs to be democratized
Laura Thornton in The Hill criticises the undemocratic closed-door nature of the preparations for the Summit and lack of participation by civil society, making suggestions for a more dynamic, open and inclusive approach moving forward. The Year of Action following the Summit will be crucial, during which time follow-up events can provide inspiration, innovation and renewed connection among democracy supporters.
Thornton suggests that the Summit should not be only between heads of state, but rather between democrats, creating a decentralised dynamic whereby important civil society groups can contribute and cooperate with each other. She furthermore recommends the possibility of outsourcing agenda development to a wider range of players, and creating "live documents" for Commitments, allowing a broader range of civil society to make contributions.