Democratic Resilience In A Time of Backsliding
Article | Last updated: 03/03/2025 | Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Are the European democracies well equipped to meet today`s challenges?
Motstandskraften til demokratier i en tid med tilbakegang
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The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and The Ministry of Foreign Affairs invite to an open Democracy Breakfast to explore and discuss how we can secure democratic resilience against challenges such as disinformation, hate speech and threats against politicians.
On the occasion of the visit by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, to Norway, we take this opportunity to discuss the challenges and state of democracy in Europe. The Council of Europe plays an important role in protecting and developing democracy, rule of law and human rights in Europe.
When and Where:
Date: March 25, 2025
Time: 09:00 – 10:30 (walk in and breakfast from 08:30)
Place: Domus Bibliotheca, Karl Johans gate 47, Oslo
Serving: Breakfast and coffee/tea
Registration: The seminar is now fully booked for in-person attendance, but it can be viewed via streaming on this website.
Registration deadline: March 20, 2025
Program
08:30: Walk-in, breakfast
09:00: Introduction to the conference by the moderator of the seminar Tine Mørch Smith, General Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Welcome and opening remarks by Kjersti Stenseng, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development.
Blooming in the desert? The state of democracy in Norway and globally. By professor Carl Henrik Knutsen, University of Oslo.
Strengthening democratic resilience in Europe. By Alain Berset, Secretary General, Council of Europe.
Panel discussion: Developing Democracy Against Emerging Threats.
Panel participants:
- Kjersti Stenseng, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development
- Bente Kalsnes, professor at Kristiania School of Communication, Leadership and Marketing
- Ola Svenneby, Leader of Norwegian Young Conservatives (Unge Høyre)
- Anders Ravik Jupskås, director at the Center for Research on Extremism (C-REX) at the University of Oslo
Closing remarks by Tine Mørch Smith, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Introduction of Speakers
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Secretary General Alain Berset
Alain Berset is the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, a position he has held since September 18, 2024. Prior to that, Mr Berset was an elected Minister in the Swiss government (Federal Council) between 2012 and 2023. Mr Berset also served twice as President of the Swiss Confederation (2018 and 2023).
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Minister Kjersti Stenseng
Kjersti Stenseng is Minister of Local Government and Regional Development. The Ministry has among other things the responsibility for the conduction of election, for local democracy and local-self-government, local government finances, housing policy and Sami and minority affairs.
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Professor Bente Kalsnes
Bente Kalsnes is professor at the Department of Communication, Kristiania University College. Her research interests include political communication, political use of social media, digital journalism, platform power, fake news, disinformation and AI. She was member of the Expert Group on artificial intelligence and elections, appointed by the Norwegian government (2024-2025), and has previously been member of the Freedom of Expression Commission, appointed by the Norwegian government (2020-2022).
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Director Anders Ravik Jupskås
Anders Ravik Jupskås is the director at the Center for Research on Extremism (C-REX) at the University of Oslo. His research focuses on right-wing extremism, political mobilization and threats against liberal democratic institutions. He holds a PhD in political science from 2015 from the University of Oslo.
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Professor Carl Henrik Knutsen
Carl Henrik Knutsen is professor and research group leader at the Department of Political Science at the University of Oslo, and research professor at the Peace Research Institute (PRIO). He is one of the Project Managers of the Varieties of Democracy Project (V-Dem), The Assessment of the Norwegian Democracy Project, and several others research project, among them about regime changes and politics in autocracies.
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Politician Ola Svenneby
Ola Svenneby is the current leader of the Young Conservatives (Unge Høyre) in Norway, a position he has held since October 3, 2020. Svenneby is also a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament for the Hedmark constituency from 2021 to 2025.
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Director General, Tine Mørch Smith
Tine Mørch Smith is the current Director General of the Department for Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Norway. She has extensive experience in international diplomacy, having previously served as Norway's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva.