Salzburg Global Seminar: Polarization and Violent Threats to Democratic Systems 

As part of the Violence, Politics & Democracy Initiative, HFG has launched a three-year project with Salzburg Global Seminar to explore violent threats to democracy worldwide.

The project, “Polarization and Violent Threats to Democratic Systems: Assessing the Threats and What We Can Do About Them” aims to:

• develop an international, interdisciplinary network of researchers and stakeholders working on understanding and addressing rising polarization and political violence in a range of mature democratic systems;
• define a set of critical questions and objectives to inform and shape a new research agenda on the rise of polarization and political violence across the selected countries; 
• contribute to a better understanding of how to assess escalating threats; and, 
• posit policy and practice recommendations for how to address the threats more effectively.

HFG President Daniel F. Wilhelm joined some twenty-five experts and policymakers for an introductory forum Sept. 16-18, 2024, in Salzburg, Austria.  

Following the conference, Salzburg published Tackling the Rising Threat of Polarization and Political Violence outlining urgent steps to reduce political violence and restore democratic trust in countries where this is a problem.

The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation is a leader in creating and disseminating knowledge on the nature, consequences, and reduction of violence in its many forms, including war, crime, and human aggression.

Salzburg Global Seminar is an independent non-profit organization founded in 1947 with a mission to challenge current and future leaders to shape a better world.

For more information contact:

Nyeleti Honwana, Program Officer

info@hfg.org | 646.428.0971