President´s Page

Arendalsuka, Norway’s unique and wonderful festival of democracy gets bigger and better. Public feedback was that this year’s event was the best ever. That’s

what they said last year, too. High-quality speakers are matched by high-quality audiences – who applaud, laugh, and listen in pin-drop silence to experts who explain what is really going on in these troubled times.

A record 160,000 people attended this year’s Arendalsuka and a record 2,000 events were held in venues, ranging from the impressive 700-seat Kulturhuset to the grand Gamle Rådhus, from charming cottages to cozy cafes, from street- corner tents to the majestic tall-ships Sørlandet, Statsråd Lehmkuhl and Christian Radich. Streets and restaurants buzzed with chatter and laughter. All venues were packed. Some like the premier Kulturhuset had long queues as people waited to get in to hear prominent speakers.

Informed public opinion is the foundation of democracy. Here was proof that most people want fact-based, knowledgeable analyses from credible experts. Visitors from abroad appreciated the openness, the celebration of democracy, the spirit of fun and the public desire to be better informed.

Arendalsuka is especially important because democracy is retreating worldwide. Last year, 60 % of the world’s population was under authoritarian rule. This year, it rose to 72 %. Nobel Laureate and former CNN colleague and Nobel laureate Maria Ressa warned that ‘Like climate change, democracy is reaching a tipping point.’ Arendalsuka is a beating heart of democracy and it is up to

citizens to keep it beating. The Mayor of Arendal Robert Nordli says that ‘the most important thing is that people learn something from Arendalsuka.’ This event shows that learning is lifelong, inspiring, fun and social.

And that is also what we do in International Forum through our programmes, which are informative, enjoyable and social. Autumn brings a superb line-up of events. See you there!

Best Wishes,