Global Democracy Activists Reaffirm UVA Values

Essay

Global Democracy Activists Reaffirm UVA Values

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This month, more than 40 prominent democracy activists from around the world met at UVA under the banner of the “People Power Academy,” the brainchild of the University’s Democratic Futures Project, led by English professor Steve Parks, in partnership with the Center for Applied Nonviolent Actions and Strategies (CANVAS) under the leadership of famed Serbian democracy activist Srdja Popovic.  Over the course of three days, the activists shared riveting stories of political persecution and imprisonment, popular triumph over autocrats, and innovative strategies and tactics for promoting nonviolent change.

Participants in the Academy came from a diverse array of political traditions and backgrounds.   There was Leopoldo López, a former Caracas mayor who spent nearly seven years in prison for his efforts to demand democratic reform in Venezuela.  Sudanese leader Rania Aziz peacefully mobilized women to demand a voice in Sudan’s transformation and civil service reform.  Zimbabwean pastor Evan Mawarire survived multiple imprisonments and torture for leading a social media protest movement against the oppressive regime of Robert Mugabe.  Polish youth activist Dominika Lasota galvanized an unprecedented youth and women’s turnout in Poland’s October 2023 parliamentary elections.   Felix Maradiaga, who escaped political imprisonment in Nicaragua as a former Presidential candidate, came to the conference to launch a worldwide political movement against arbitrary detention.  And Russia’s Evgenia Chirikova has been a brave and often lone voice in speaking up against Putin’s war against Ukraine and the political corruption that is degrading Russia’s environment.

 

In an era of growing political polarization between left and right, their presence on Grounds was an inspirational reminder that our adversaries are not each other on opposite ends of the political spectrum, but rather the authoritarians who aim to deprive us of the freedom to think for ourselves in an open marketplace of ideas.

Despite this diversity, it was clear through their three days among us that the Academy participants share a love for the founding principle of our University to “follow truth wherever it may lead” in an atmosphere of personal freedom, tolerance, and respect in service to the greater good.  In an era of growing political polarization between left and right, their presence here on Grounds was an inspirational reminder that our adversaries are not each other on opposite ends of the political spectrum, but rather the authoritarians who aim to deprive us – through disinformation, manipulation, and bullying – of the freedom to think for ourselves in an open marketplace of ideas. 

In the year ahead, and with the help of our donor community, we in Global Affairs plan to bring back their enriching presence on Grounds regularly to interact with our faculty and students to strengthen us in protecting and growing the precious gift we have in this free university.

Stay Global!

 

Ambassador Stephen Mull

Ambassador Stephen Mull is Vice Provost of Global Affairs.