GAPS Club Represents IUS at the 3rd International Forum on Future Democracy
Between October 13–19, 2025, Mr. Benjamin Ahmedbegović and Ms. Ema Horňáčková President and Vice President of the Global Affairs and Political Studies Club (GAPS) — students of the Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) program at the IUS Faculty of Business and Administration (FBA) - attended the 3rd Annual International Forum on Future Democracy held in central Germany.
This year’s forum focused on “Electoral Integrity and Its Connection to Democracy,” addressing the growing challenges of protecting democratic values and ensuring free and fair elections in diverse political and cultural contexts.
The discussions highlighted key issues such as party disaffection, declining voter turnout, and the rising appeal of alternative political models, including far-right movements - all indicators of democratic fatigue in Germany and across Europe. Participants reaffirmed a shared belief that, despite its imperfections, democracy remains the most resilient and inclusive form of governance. Fair elections were recognized as the cornerstone of every functioning democratic system.
Beyond dialogue, the forum provided a space for innovative thinking and practical collaboration through workshops, open sessions, and joint writing activities. Notable among these were “Introduction to Electoral Integrity & Insights from Serbia” by Democracy International, and “Democracy at the Crossroads: Lessons from Romania’s Political Crisis and the Rise of Ultra-Nationalism” by Europuls. Participants also engaged with the Mayor of Eisenach and contributed to drafting a Declaration on Strengthening Electoral Integrity, co-facilitated by GAPS representatives.
The forum’s international character fostered meaningful exchange among participants from over fifteen countries, including Afghanistan, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, India, Italy, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. This diversity enriched understanding of global democratic practices, electoral systems, and governance models.
A key highlight of the week was the presentation of the jointly drafted Declaration on Electoral Integrity during the Wartburg Festival of Democracy at the historic Wartburg Castle in Eisenach. The event celebrated democratic engagement and encouraged open citizen dialogue. The declaration was warmly received, and the participation of IUS students was featured in local German media.
The International Forum on Future Democracy was organized by the Student Network on Future Democracy, with which the GAPS Club recently established formal cooperation. Earlier this year, the two organizations co-hosted a university event titled “Censorship in the 21st Century.” The 2025 forum was held in collaboration with Gesellschaft zur Erforschung der Demokratie-Geschichte (Society for the Study of the History of Democracy) and supported by institutions such as Chernivtsi National University and Democracy International.
Throughout the event, GAPS representatives not only presented on electoral systems and democratic challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovakia, but also actively participated in networking sessions, expanding IUS’s global presence among university clubs and student organizations.
Participation in this prestigious forum reaffirmed GAPS’s dedication to promoting democratic dialogue, international awareness, and student engagement on global issues. The experience provided valuable insight into the current state of democracy worldwide and strengthened our university’s partnerships with organizations committed to defending democratic values.
