How can we involve Walloons in decision-making, in a deliberative and permanent way
Insights from the first ever Deliberative Committee set up by the Parliament of Wallonia and designed by our partner organization Dreamocracy.
Masterclass
Far-right ideology is gaining ground, leaving progressive citizens and defenders of democracy stunned. Racism, populism, and demagogues are on the rise. In times like these, it’s easy to feel helpless. To wait and hope. How can we actively push back? How do we take a stand when faced with extreme rhetoric?
Smarter Together’s “Democracy Dojo” provides free workshops that teach you hands-on democratic resistance techniques, in a safe space. You learn, practice, and connect with like-minded resistance fighters. Through discussion, experimentation, and collective problem-solving, we equip ourselves to take action—together.
In the current context of virulent attacks by demagogues, populists and extreme politicians against the tenets of democracy, Smarter Together wishes to adapt and strengthen its activities to place collective intelligence at the center of the renewal of our institutions.
This will take the form in the coming months of the “Democracy Dojo”. Because we actually need to fight back, on the level of ideas and principles, we have developed a programme of collaborative workshops aimed at strengthening the democratic resilience of communities of stakeholders around us, by encouraging citizen participation, constructive dialogue and the development of collective solutions to societal challenges.
Resilience is a very fashionable term, but it fits well with our intention here: to strengthen the capacity of individuals and groups to preserve and reinforce their democratic principles in the face of crises, external pressures (disinformation, interference, authoritarian threats) and internal tensions (polarisation, loss of trust, inequalities).
Our aim is therefore to cultivate people’s awareness of democratic values and institutional mechanisms; to equip them for active involvement in decision-making and governance; and to increase their ability to respond to and combat misinformation and to take part in informed public debate.
Smarter Together’s events in 2025 will therefore all be offered pro bono. They will be run by our partners at Dreamocracy. Each event will present a specific technique that strengthens participants’ ability to resist antidemocratic behaviour and language.
Smarter Together’s Democracy Dojo offers a programme of collaborative workshops run aimed at strengthening the democratic resistance capacity of individuals and the democratic resilience of communities of stakeholders, by promoting constructive dialogue, the ability to engage in public debate effectively and constructively, and the development of collective solutions to societal challenges.
Each workshop makes a clear link between a technique and a challenge presented by the antidemocratic context: the aim is to equip participants with techniques that can be applied using very concrete techniques and arguments.
Workshops are:
The workshops are open to Smarter Together’s friends and partners, with a a shared interest in strengthening democracy and fighting for a society that is more equitable and sustainable.
The events will be held sometimes in French, sometimes in English, depending on the target audience.
Workshops are run on behalf of Smarter Together by members of Dreamocracy’s team and any motivated and relevant external volunteers (let us know if you’d like to suggest a workshop!).
Friday 16 May (12:30 – 14:30 CET, Bois de la Cambre, Brussels) – The Walksprint – What is my role in the face of anti-democratic forces?
Thursday 12 June (18:30 – 20.30 CET, Institut du du Neurocognitivisme, 81 Avenue de Tervueren – 1040 Brussels) – Shake that Slogan: Ideation techniques for better demonstration slogans
June (date TBD, 17:30 – 19:30 CET, in Brussels) – Mobilising the Theatre of the Oppressed to anticipate and react to real-life discrimination
Thursday June 26, 2025, (9:30 – 17:30, in Brussels) – Seminar: Harnessing emotions for better policy making
Other upcoming techniques (dates to be confirmed):
The Dojo is facilitated by:
Join the Dojo’s events if you want to:
Learn more about Dreamocracy
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