Local Democracy as a Counterweight to Authoritarianism
- Date
- 17 August 2026, 15:00–16:30
- Location
- Campus Gotland, lecture hall E22
- Type
- Lecture, Seminar
- Lecturer
- Johan Lilja, Amalinda Savirani, Anna Calvete Moreno, Winnie Mitullah, and Sten Hagberg
- Web page
- https://www.uu.se/en/centre/africa-studies
- Organiser
- Forum for Africa Studies
As part of the 2026 Local Democracy Academy co-organized by the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy, and Uppsala University's Forum for Africa Studies, a panel discussion open to the general public will take place at Almedalsbiblioteket, Lecture-Hall E22, Visby, Monday 17 August, 15.00(sharp)-16.30. Speakers are local democracy researchers from Kenya, Indonesia, Spain, and Sweden.
The Panel Discussion on Local Democracy as a Counterweight to Authoritarianism is a timely event in the context of democratic backsliding, growing polarization, attacks on independent institutions, shrinking civic space, and declining trust in politics.
Yet, while much attention is given to national politics, democracy is ultimately lived and experienced locally. Municipalities and local governments are oftentimes the first line of defence for democratic values. The panel asks: how and in which ways can local democracy serve as a counterweight to authoritarianism?
Four scholars will address this question: Prof. Amalinda Savirani (Gadja Mada University), Ms. Anna Calvete Moreno (United Cities and Local Governments), Prof. Winnie Mitullah (University of Nairobi), and Prof. Sten Hagberg (Uppsala University).
Access the flyer here png, 248 kB.
