The University of Virginia recently hosted Democracy Dialogues: The worldwide struggle for democracy where leading democracy activists from around the world spoke about what it is like to fight for democracy in a country that has been plagued by political violence. A couple of activists share their experiences and what faculty and students can do to support democracy work around the world.

Why are events like the one at UVA – Democracy Dialogues – important?
Mawarire: These kinds of events are critical to helping American audiences have key perspectives of democracy at home and abroad. As democracy defenders from outside America, we bring in perspectives that people who are close to everyday events here may not be seeing.

How does meeting activists from around the world inform your own work?
Mawarire: There is always a great cross-pollination of ideas when we meet as activists from different backgrounds and experiences. We get a chance to compare notes and to paint a fuller picture of the tactics and strategies that work and those that are either outdated or needing improvement. As you know, this work is very demanding physically, emotionally and spiritually. One of the things I look forward to when I meet other activists is the encouragement we often give each other. We know how easy it is to burnout or feel defeated when autocrats have hit us hard.

You had to pay a stiff price by serving time in a Zimbabwean prison.  Were you still able to play a leadership role in your movement, even behind bars, and if so, how did that work?
Mawarire: Because leadership is a function of the cause that one serves, it should not be affected by the physical limitations. i found that I was able to continue with the movement's objectives. Although I was in captivity, I had the opportunity to speak and inspire other inmates and even jail guards and police officers to onboard the movement. We also had a great layer of strategic leadership who were able to carry the work on whilst i was away. We communicated as best as we could but we really relied on the groundwork and mentorship we had laid prior to times of arrest.

What can students and faculty here at UVA do to support democratic movements around the world?
Mawarire: Anyone who has ever mobilized people knows that as long as there are people available to represent a cause no matter their limitations or even the distance they may have on the matters, the cause has a chance. Students and faculty can help amplify a matter by writing to their representative, writing OpEds in any publication that will listen, using their social media platforms (that's how i started the movement), starting seasonal campaigns in their community on the matter, joining protests/awareness campaigns or starting their own.
They can also demand spaces and activities that bring activists onto the campus to speak and educate, they can sign up to help as interns on activist's programs and activities and they can even suggest providing research for something they believe is important for that cause. See a need and fill it even without being asked because no activist worth their salt will ever turn down an ally.

Why are events like the one at UVA – Democracy Dialogues – important?
Popovic: Putting leading activists and their appealing stories in the spotlight of academic institutions (and especially in symbolically very powerful spaces like Rotunda) gives platform to people who are real heroes in struggle for democracy. It also gives the opportunity to academic and local audience to “touch the change” by discussing real and tangible challenges with people who put their freedom and life on the line for democracy. Talking to the audience after event I also felt their connection and inspiration to think about what they can do in their own environment to help and support democracy battles which are often happening thousands of miles away. That made my week!
 
How does meeting activists from around the world inform your own work?
Popovic: Working with activists from dozens of countries is always a bliss and challenge. And you are constantly on the learning curve. How to understand complex challenges, how to discover and make sense of best practices, how to identify and boost creativity, and more importantly how to use success (and failure) to craft educational tools for others makes life of movement builder a constant roller coaster of intellectual cardio and inspiration
 
Your movement CANVAS is an inspiration for other activists around the world. What lessons would you share with other democracy activists prioritize in learning to prepare to govern?
Popovic: CANVAS toolbox, tested and taught to over 60 movements worldwide includes crucial idea of setting your vision and strategy BEYOND just getting rid of autocratic or illiberal government. It is the transition and institution building that come after the change, which in many cases (Arab Spring, see Sudan right now) are serious challenges. Seems that we have learned a lot about how to build change, but for how to make it durable, more research and international support in transitional phase of democracy struggles may be our next big milestone.
 
What can students and faculty here at UVA do to support democratic movements around the world?
 Popovic: Engage more with frontline democracy activists…as I have witnessed working together with Prof Steve Parks through our Democracy Futures Project, starting our little January course together, and gradually building presence of democracy advocates over last three years.  It seems pretty clear that brining frontline democracy advocates highly benefits students interest and motivation, energize scholars and researches and brings unique quality to university…not to mention that real democracy heroes get boost and support from prestigious academic institutions. Building offensive on more classes that will include democracy practitioners, more regular events and more output (research podcasts) will highly benefit democracy enthusiasts both on academic and activist side.