A transatlantic network of leaders committed to bridging across difference to strengthen democracy and build belonging in Europe, the US, and around the world.
News & Updates
Upcoming Events
The Democracy & Belonging Forum is launching its year-long Network Catalyzers Program in 2025 to support and resource Forum members in launching virtual or in-person communities that explore specific challenges and opportunities related to othering, belonging, bridging, and democracy.
Using belonging without othering as an orienting frame and bridging as a guiding practice, selected catalyzers will launch communities that aim to build trust, foster new relationships, cultivate bridging skills, and develop a collective understanding of ongoing social and political dynamics in Europe and North America. While some communities will only sustain for the duration of this program, we hope that others will exist beyond the 12 months.
Overview
What we do
We aspire to build a world where everyone belongs. And we need strong democratic systems to make that aspiration a reality. But democracies in Europe and the US are straining under the weight of toxic fragmentation, high mistrust towards public institutions, and out-group scapegoating—divisions that are all-too-often exploited by authoritarian populists globally.
The Democracy & Belonging Forum aims to counter political fragmentation and the exploitation of division by anti-democratic actors by connecting and resourcing civic leaders in both regions who are committed to crossing lines of difference to strengthen a multi-identity coalition for democracy while continuing to advance belonging for marginalized groups.
Conversations
Event Overview
The World is Not Enough with Bayo Akomolafe and Ashish Kothari
How we work
Through in-person and online convenings, original research, story-sharing, funded joint experiments, and other activities, we evolve our understanding of the concepts of othering, belonging, breaking and bridging as they apply to different regions, and share practices and strategies to counter polarization and democratic erosion—all while grappling with the reality of power, privilege, and positionality in our diverse social and cultural contexts. The Forum is open to leaders from across the political spectrum who share our belief in the dignity of all people and our commitment to the pursuit of belonging for everyone.
Our goal is to jointly expand our capacity to counter authoritarianism, advance belonging for marginalized groups, and strengthen democracy in both regions and across the globe.
Overview
Insights from Forum leaders
The Democracy & Belonging Forum is an initiative of the Othering & Belonging Institute at the University of California, Berkeley. Learn more about who we are here.
