User:Why Democracy

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In October 2007, ten one-hour films focused on contemporary democracy will be broadcast in the world's biggest factual media event. Currently twenty-five broadcasters on all continents are participating, with an estimated audience of a minimum 150 million viewers.

The films are being made by independent award-winning filmmakers from different countries around the world, including China, India, Japan, Liberia, USA, Bolivia, Denmark, and Russia.

In addition, ten short films, dealing with personal, political and rights issues will be produced under the theme 'What does democracy mean to me?'

The Why Democracy? films are intended for educational purposes as well as broadcasters. The films will be accompanied by a website and widespread post-transmission distribution programme on DVD as part of the global project. Why Democracy? is a unique documentary project because it comes with a guaranteed audience and was created in order to stimulate debate across borders and continents.

The various films produced by the project will have a common reference beyond the thematic. Both the global broadcast and the debates arising from the films will lead to a greater understanding concerning both the conditions of governance facing people in different societies and cultures, as well as a broader understanding of democracy. And the long-term educational perspective will allow for maximum use of the combined elements of the project.

In the three years that it has taken to create Why Democracy?, the world's political rights situation has become in some respects more terrifying. With so much violence done in the name of democracy, it has undoubtedly become a more contested idea. However, there is even greater need than before to understand it better and, despite its ironies, there is an unparalled interest in the promise it holds.

Fareed Zakaria writes: "If democracy becomes an empty shell, this would be a tragedy because democracy with all its flaws represents the 'last best hope' for people around the world. But it needs to be secured and strengthened for our times. Eighty years ago, Woodrow Wilson took America into the twentieth century with a challenge to make the world safe for democracy. As we enter the twenty-first century, our task is to make democracy safe for the world".