From Athens to the Future: McCain Institute Leaders Discuss Democracy, Trust and Technology
Pedro Abramovay, Angeliki Vourdaki, and McCain Global leader Johannes Lang speak at Athens Democracy Forum
More than 2,000 years after democracy first took shape in Athens, one question remains as urgent as ever: How do we ensure citizens have a meaningful voice in the decisions that shape their lives?
The McCain Institute was proud to support the Athens Democracy Forum, joining leaders, practitioners and advocates from around the world for timely conversations on strengthening democracy, rebuilding public trust and confronting the challenges reshaping democratic societies.
The McCain Institute delegation included McCain Global Leaders Ana Monica and Johannes Lang, along with Senior Director Paul Fagan and Assistant Director Berivan Orucoglu. Close Institute partner Nino Evgenidze, executive director of the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC), also participated, bringing an important perspective from Georgia and drawing attention to the plight of political prisoners amid the country’s ongoing political challenges.
During the Forum, Johannes, co-founder and CEO of Ventures Beyond Borders, joined Pedro Abramovay, vice president of programs at the Open Society Foundations, for a discussion on “Legitimacy, State Transformation and the Democratic Social Contract,” moderated by Angeliki Vourdaki of Demos Helsinki.
At the heart of Johannes’ remarks was one of the most pressing challenges facing democracies today: the erosion of public trust and the growing distance between citizens and the institutions and representatives that make decisions on their behalf.
In Athens, the birthplace of democracy, Johannes looked to the past for ideas that could help strengthen its future. He highlighted deliberation and sortition — the selection of citizens by lot — as approaches that could give everyday citizens a more meaningful role in public decision-making and help make democratic institutions more responsive and accountable.
He also turned to one of the defining forces shaping the future of government: artificial intelligence. Johannes highlighted AI’s potential to improve public services and expand opportunities for citizens to participate in democratic processes. But he also emphasized an essential guardrail: Technology should strengthen democratic decision-making, not replace it. Governments must remain accountable for consequential decisions rather than outsourcing them to algorithms that citizens cannot question, scrutinize or hold responsible.
The discussion underscored a principle that reaches far beyond Athens: Democracy must continue to evolve to meet new challenges, but citizens must remain at the center of that transformation.
The McCain Institute is proud to support forums that bring together new ideas, diverse perspectives and the next generation of leaders working to strengthen democracy. Through the McCain Global Leaders Program, leaders like Johannes are exploring what democratic leadership can look like in a rapidly changing world — grounded in participation, accountability and the conviction that citizens must have a meaningful voice in shaping their future.
The McCain Institute thanks the Athens Democracy Forum for recognizing its support and for convening leaders committed to defending democratic values, strengthening institutions and ensuring democracy remains responsive to the people it serves.
About the McCain Institute at Arizona State University
The McCain Institute is a nonpartisan organization inspired by Senator John McCain and his family’s dedication to public service. We are part of Arizona State University and based in Washington, D.C. Our programs defend democracy, advance human rights and freedom, and empower character-driven leaders. Our unique power to convene leaders across the global political spectrum enables us to make a real impact on the world’s most pressing challenges. Our goal is action, not talk, and like Senator McCain, we are fighting to create a free, safe, and just world for all.
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American research university, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.