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Building the World Movement for DemocracyInaugural World AssemblyFebruary 14-17, 1999 New Delhi, India Democracy & Diversity: Managing Pluralism "The great challenge for democracies in the next century will be how they build upon cultural and linguistic diversity so that one's language, culture or religion do not preclude one from being a loyal citizen." ~ Emilio Lamo de Espinosa Panel II addressed "Democracy & Diversity: Managing Pluralism." The five panelists were: Sonja Biserko, Chair of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of Serbia, Ivan Krastev, Chairman of the Center for Liberal Strategies of Bulgaria, Olisa Agbakoba, Chairman of United Action for Democracy of Nigeria, Ashis Nandy, Professor and former Director of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies of India, and Emilio Lamo de Espinosa, Director of Instituto Universitario Ortega Y Gasset of Spain. Iris Almeida, Director of Programs, International Center for Human Rights & Democratic Development of Canada, chaired the panel. "What the Serbs didn't understand was that the basic democratic principle is that all have equal moral importance in decision making. Self governance is the basis for political equality, not ethnic identity." ~ Sonja BiserkoDemocracy is born out of the recognition and acceptance of diversity. The speakers emphasized the acceptance of the principle of diversity as a necessary condition for democracy to thrive. As ethnic identities are increasingly asserted, the challenge for democracy will be how to build upon cultural, linguistic, religious or racial diversity so that any singular identity does not preclude one from being accepted as a citizen of a democracy. Democratic theory would have to go beyond mere tolerance of diversity; it must evolve to celebrate diversity and pluralism. "Democracy protects us as much as we protect democracy. Democratic theory must go beyond tolerance, democracy must learn to appreciate, even celebrate diversity." ~ Ashis Nandy "Maybe the time has come for us to do what Transparency International has done in the field of corruption. Is it impossible to have a convention that guarantees democracy? Is it impossible to have an international system that goes beyond the statements of regret that are expressed when there is a coup? Is it impossible to have a trigger that sets the international community into action when a democratic government is overthrown? To be truly effective it is time for us to give teeth to the democratic movement." ~ Olisa Agbakoba |
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