Push 4ward

The EU and the US - the historical and most powerful democratic alliance on the planet - are currently facing the same political challenges and opportunities in the policy areas of economics, immigration, climate change, social welfare, human rights, the rule of law, DEI, housing, energy, security and defense, social media and misinformation, Big Tech, AI and digital platforms (etc.). 

Illiberal political movements have been rising (from South/ North America to the EU) and are very well organized in terms of discourse and strategy. Major efforts such as the CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) – and other lesser-funded/ lesser-mediatic conferences – have been underway for the past several years now and the gains have been unprecedented at the ballot boxes throughout western democracies. All this, without much of a strong, unified, collective response from progressive political parties and movements.

It is time for that to end. And time for students to step up, identify shared challenges, seek common ground, think outside of the box and advance and renew democracy on both sides of the Atlantic. As youth political consultants, students will focus on best practices, common policy objectives and the common (not divisive) desires of democratic citizens interested in not only safeguarding but strengthening democracy – now and into the future.

It is time to renew democratic aims (and consequently) effective policies for citizens throughout our western democratic society. Policies in favor of sustainable and inclusive societies, in favor of the rule of law, in favor of enhanced equality, in favor of fair and empowering digital landscapes, in favor of social, tax and environmental justice.

Illiberal forces have been very organized and hitting their stride throughout the west. Progressive forces must do the same, starting with EU (CIVIS), US and Canadian students.

It is time to push back on the new negative trends that have taken hold in western democratic societies in recent years. Or perhaps, from a more positive and proactive perspective. It is time to PUSH 4WARD. 

Who?

CIVIS, US and Canadian students who want to learn more about the transatlantic political and social realities and strengthen democracy will act as youth political consultants and interact in transatlantic fashion.

Policy issues: elections, immigration, voting rights, rule of law, human rights, economics, housing, DEI, climate change, energy, the media and social media, AI and digital platforms / Big Tech, taxes, social welfare, LGBTQI+, reproductive freedoms, security & defense, etc. (TBA)

Institutions: EU member state or Brussels-level (European Parliament, European Commission, European Economic and Social Committee, European External Action Service, diplomatic missions to the EU, etc.), political foundations, think tanks, policy centers, etc.  in addition to local / state / federal-level in the US and Canada, depending on policy area that youth political consultants are researching together.

US / Canadian partner universities: youth political consultants from diverse locations (similar to the CIVIS alliance - geographic diversity among 11 European countries and 6 African partner universities): 

• swing states
• battleground states
• urban/ rural areas
• North/ South/ East/ West (geographic diversity)

As a pioneering CIVIS project focusing on liberal, transatlantic political collaboration, this project aims to establish the framework for future, further developed editions of this BIP.

Main topics addressed

Policy Issues - to be decided / selected by students. Possible examples:

• free and fair elections (voting rights)
• safeguarding liberal democracy
• security & defence
• immigration
• human rights
• economics
• housing
• DEI 
• climate change
• energy
• AI and digital platforms / Big Tech (the media and social media) 
• taxes
• social welfare
• LGBTQI+
• reproductive freedoms

Students will agree and vote on the most pressing issues, which will serve as policy areas of focus for this BIP (TBA).

Learning outcomes

During this course, the students will:

• learn how to strengthen democracy (from the EU to the US / Canada) and learn about the transatlantic political and social realities;
• act as youth political consultants and interact in transatlantic fashion in order to safeguard liberal democracy from illiberal political trends in western democracies;
• strengthen teamwork/ negotiation/ collaboration abilities;
• engage in detail dialogue about political realities, challenges and trends;
• improve presentation skills;
• improve diplomacy skills;
• challenge preconceived political beliefs/ notions;
• gain a better understanding of the functioning of the EU institutions;
• make their voices heard and propose ideas for the effective safeguarding of liberal democracy within various policy areas currently affecting both sides of the Atlantic (and western democracies, in general).