Managing the polarities of democracy

Between June 14 and 22, 2025, the training course "Managing Polarities in Democracy – A Key to Meaningful Youth Participation in Civil and Political Processes in the EU" sparked lively discussions on democracy and the ten pairs of democratic values viewed as polarities. The course brought together 36 youth workers from 7 European countries, aiming to strengthen their capacity to promote inclusive, active, and meaningful participation of young people in democratic processes at the local, national, and European levels.

Each day, participants explored one of the polarities and its values through non-formal education, learning that effective democratic governance does not mean choosing between opposites, but rather balancing them to maximize benefits and avoid drawbacks. The theory of polarities in democracy was introduced as an innovative tool for navigating the complexity of democratic processes — one that moves away from seeking one-sided solutions and instead focuses on managing the tensions between core democratic values such as diversity and equality, freedom and authority, among others.

As a special guest, Dr. William Benet — the creator of the Polarity Theory of Democracy — actively participated in the 7-day course. Participants described the experience as "inspiring, educational, and life-changing," while Dr. Benet returned to the United States with renewed energy and even greater motivation to spread the innovative approach to democratic participation among young people worldwide.

During the course, participants created a short documentary film, which you can find here.

The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.