The Building Global Democracy Programme explores how ‘rule by and for the people’ can be understood and practised in relation to global issues.

How can democracy be meaningful in today’s more global world? How can affected people participate in and control the governance of global concerns such as climate change, financial crises, health challenges, human rights, internet communications, security problems, and trade?

Launched in 2008, the Building Global Democracy Programme brings together interested academic researchers, civil society activists, entrepreneurs, journalists and officials from all world regions. Our projects cover issues such as: rethinking democracy for a global age; citizen learning for global democracy; including the excluded in global policymaking; resource redistribution for global equity; and intercultural constructions of legitimate global governance.

The BGD Programme is facilitated and coordinated through a convening group of ten persons based in ten world regions. Our administrative office is located in the Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation at the University of Warwick. Core funding is provided with a generous grant from the Ford Foundation.

Click here to find out more about BGD approach, objectives and convening group. Or read our full programme prospectus. Please register to keep up with our activities and/or to join our debates. Welcome!