This paper presents the findings from year six of an ongoing research/education/application initiative begun in 2020 to address the rising global attack on democracy by the forces of authoritarianism. That global attack has been fueled by the failure to make the promise of democracy a reality for all people and the ensuing societal violence and international conflict that has emerged from that failure. Enacted following the murder of George Floyd, the initiative encompasses the application of a specific theory of change (the polarities of democracy) to test the development and implementation of action agendas designed to strengthen democratic governance, address anti-democratic attitudes such as racism and patriarchy, promote peacebuilding, and advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The theory of change was applied through strategic alliances with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the Atlanta Chapter of the NAACP, Rotary of Great Britain and Ireland (District 1070), the Values, Virtues, Integrity (VVI) Foundation of Bulgaria, and the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Social change results were identified at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels that contribute to building healthy, sustainable, and just organizations and communities. The specific year six achievements of the initiative are detailed in the paper. These results with participants from 12 countries show continued promise for a practical approach for defending democracy, overcoming the failures of the neoliberal agenda, combatting authoritarianism, and making the promise of democracy a reality for all people.

Authors:
William Benet, Walden University, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Bill Benet is an Adjunct Professor at the Walden University School of Public Policy and Administration and a Senior Fellow at the Polarities of Democracy Institute. He leads the Institute’s Defending Democracy Project through Strategic Alliances with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the Atlanta, Georgia Chapter of the NAACP, Rotary of Great Britain and Ireland (District 1070), the Values, Virtues, Integrity (VVI) Foundation of Bulgaria, and the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Together, they are working to strengthen democratic governance, address racism, promote peacebuilding, and advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Project offers a practical approach for overcoming the failures of the neoliberal agenda through the development of healthy, sustainable, and just organizations and communities that make the promise of democracy a reality for all people.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-benet-12341524

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