DEMOCRACIES UNDER THREAT
FROM MILITARY DEFENCE TO DEMOCRATIC RESILIENCE
On November 14, 2025, the International Institute for Peace, in partnership with the Delegation of the Government of Catalonia in Central Europe, the Human Rights Office of the City of Vienna, the Austrian Institute for International Affairs, the International Catalan Institute for Peace, and Democracy Centre Vienna, convened the conference “Democracies Under Threat: From Military Defence to Democratic Resilience.”
The conference’s central aim was to promote a resilient democracy rooted in a holistic, shared understanding of security that combines internal societal strength and external safeguards.
The first session, "Security as a Broader and Holistic Concept Beyond Traditional Military Paradigms," immediately emphasized this comprehensive approach, discussing how democratic resilience, human security, and social trust are integral components of security, extending the concept beyond traditional military defense.
The second session, “Building Democratic Resilience: Local Solutions to Global Challenges,” highlighted how democratic resilience is forged at the local level through inclusive governance, civic engagement, and community-based responses to transnational threats.
Together, the discussions reinforced the idea that safeguarding democracy requires both strong institutions and vibrant local societies, linking everyday democratic practice to broader national and international security.
