DEMOCRACY WITHOUT BORDERS

DEMOCRACY WITHOUT BORDERS
'Where Nations Meet Citizens'
​Exclusive Interview with Andreas Bummel
Conducted by Alex Taylor

​In a world fractured by borders yet bound by shared crises, Andreas Bummel has dedicated his life to championing a bold idea: global democracy. As the co-founder and Executive Director of Democracy Without Borders, he envisions a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly that finally gives citizens—not just governments—a seat at the table. His work is a call to ignite the untapped power of global citizenship and chart a democratic future for all of humanity.

ALEX: What drives your commitment to global democracy, and how do you stay motivated in the face of challenges?

ANDREAS: What drives me is a firm belief that global democracy is essential to tackling today’s global challenges and to ensure a flourishing of all life on Earth. Expanding democratic government beyond the nation-state is the next necessary step in the political evolution of humankind. I'll admit staying motivated is a daily challenge given the state of the world, but I believe persistence ultimately will lead to success. Major battles in history like abolishing slavery, expanding suffrage, ending colonialism, or dismantling apartheid, were all won because people refused to give up. And there are people everywhere who already identify as global citizens, who are tired of nationalism, and support steps forward.. There’s untapped power waiting to be stirred and it is our task to ignite it.

ALEX: In your view, Andreas, what are the most pressing global issues that the current international system fails to address effectively?

ANDREAS: We need to recognize that we are facing a global polycrisis, a web of interconnected global challenges that can no longer be addressed in isolation. The climate crisis is one of the most important ones but there are many others, such as war and violent conflict, state fragility and state collapse, which is related to food security, economic inequality, the rapid advance of technologies like artificial intelligence, and the ongoing risk of global pandemics. The current international system, as it stands, is not capable of addressing any of these challenges effectively, let alone the web as a whole. The underlying reason is a mismatch between the planetary scale of the problems and the structure of the international system, which is still based on the idea of sovereign nation-states. What is needed is a leap towards a democratic global polity.

ALEX: Could you elaborate on the envisioned role of World Parliamentary Assembly? I understand it would complement the existing UN General Assembly?

ANDREAS: The idea behind a World Parliamentary Assembly is to give citizen-elected representatives a say in global affairs. Right now, the UN General Assembly brings together representatives from each country, but these are all diplomats appointed by the executives. A World Parliamentary Assembly by contrast would enable broader representation and reflect the diversity of countries and the world better. In particular, it will be a vehicle to give a voice to political opposition which is currently shut out at the UN.

ANDREAS: (continued) This new body certainly would complement the UN General Assembly, not replace it. In our vision, the World Parliamentary Assembly would act as a voice of humanity, providing democratic oversight, debating global issues in a more open and transparent way, and in the long run even help shape binding global laws on things like climate action, global health, or digital governance.

In short, this assembly would help bring democracy to the global stage. It is about making global decision-making more effective and accountable to people, not just to governments. On top we also support additional changes like a World Citizens’ Initiative or Global Citizens’ Assemblies which will provide opportunities to everyday citizens to have a direct voice as well.

ALEX: Looking ahead, what milestones do you hope to achieve in the next decade?

ANDREAS: My organization, Democracy Without Borders, has developed a long-term Theory of Change that envisions the adoption of a global constitution by 2045, guided by key milestones. By 2030, when the UN Sustainable Development Goals are reviewed, we hope a majority of UN Member States will commit to establishing a Parliamentary Assembly.

Once established, the assembly is expected to generate new momentum. It would form its own portfolio committees to address urgent global challenges and bring democratic solutions to global institutions.

We believe this assembly will help strengthen democracy both globally and nurturing a sense of global citizenship. More broadly, we need to shift the global conversation. One of the pressing challenges of our time is the lack of bold, future-oriented visions that can inspire shared purpose and hope. ∎

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