Agora-Group

CALL FOR PAPERS - FOCUS ON AFRICA

To coincide with the launch of Agora Group Ghana, the next issue of Youth and Democracy will be an African Special Edition that focuses on issues of development, education and politics. As a themed issue, Focus on Africa provides the opportunity for discussion in the areas of democratic development, economic reform, developmental issues, education and society. There is no restriction based upon geographical constraints, rather the aim is to generate debate on issues of relevance in African Nations and to highlight events and development on a wider scale.

This journal provides the opportunity to publish and influence debate on an international level. We welcome submissions on a variety of areas and, as a journal dedicated to providing a platform for student publication, Youth and Democracy can therefore guarantee that all accepted submissions will not be left out for lack of space.

Submission Deadline: June 30 2008

Contact the Editor for further information: christopher.hill@agora-group.org

Youth and Democracy E-Journal

OFFICIAL LAUNCH � AGORA GROUP GHANA

University of Ghana - Frederick Marfour Building
Thursday 27 March 2008
12 � 2:30 pm

Agora Group Ghana was officially launched on March 27th 2008 at the Graduate School of The University of Ghana. The event served to introduce Agora Group Ghana and to begin a process of development and participation amongst Ghanaian youth. The event also served to develop contacts and raise the profile of Agora Group Ghana amongst the wider community in Ghana.

We were privileged to have Joseph Henry Mensah as our guest speaker for this event.

Click here for more information

DISCUSSION GROUP � Wednesday December 5TH 2007

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? THE NATURE OF CITIZENSHIP AND IDENTITY.

A discussion group was held on December 5th where participants debated their ideas regarding identity and citizenship. The aim of the event was to broaden horizons and to develop understanding, both of other people�s perceptions, and one�s own.

There was no real design or structure to the session, it began with a few questions and developed into free flowing debate that lasted two hours. The participants were both undergraduate and postgraduate, from different educational backgrounds and comprised of many different nationalities, which served to provide a welcome diversity that led to interactive and challenging discussion.

Audio of the session (1:42:00)

To Download
Streaming version soon to follow

Youth and Democracy: Student Journal Launch

The Agora Group has launched an electronic journal dedicated to providing a forum for student debate and discussion. The journal will enable students to publish their work at a very early stage of their academic careers and will create exposure and awareness of youth opinion.

The inaugural issue of the journal is comprised of conference papers presented for, Democracy, Politics and the Changing Role of Participation: A Youth Perspective held at The University of Nottingham, 13 June 2007.

Inaugural Issue

STUDENT SEMINAR � Hamburg 1 December 2007

TRANSITIONS AND TRANSFORMATIONS: POLITIES, POLITICS AND POLICY IN A GLOBALISING WORLD. A YOUTH PERSPECTIVE

On Saturday 1 December 2007, the Agora Group in association with the Institute of Political Science, University of Hamburg presents a half-day student seminar to be held in the rooms of the Institute at Allende-Platz 1, Hamburg. The seminar is open to students of Political Science and neighbouring disciplines, at any stage of their studies, and young academics, providing an opportunity to exchange and discuss ideas and make contacts. Participants are invited to present papers in a supportive and open atmosphere providing the basis for stimulating debate.

Click here for more information and to register.

AGORA GROUP GHANA

The Agora Group has recently established Agora Group Ghana which will attempt to promote and sustain debate on issues of national importance among young people in Ghana. The aim is to encourage youth participation in Ghana's democratic process and advocate for increased opportunities in quality education within Ghana.

Co-Executive Directors, Martin Adjei-Mensah and Christopher Hill are pictured above.

Please continue to check back for further details

STUDENT CONFERENCE - Nottingham 13 June 2007

The Agora Group in association with The University of Nottingham Graduate School presents
a one-day student conference

DEMOCRACY, POLITICS AND THE CHANGING ROLE OF PARTICIPATION: A YOUTH PERSPECTIVE

Click here for more information

Voice your Opinion

Voice your Opinion on an Interactive Global Stage. Please make use of the interactive capability of this website by clicking on the Live Debate link and contributing to forum discussions on contemporary political issues or by submitting articles for discussion. This is your chance to play an active role in international debate and to promote the continued discussion and interaction of young people all over the world

March 8, 2005 - International Seminar on Democracy and Terrorism

Agora Executive Director Christopher Hill was invited to participate in the International Seminar on Democracy, Terrorism and Security, organized by the Club de Madrid, and held in Madrid from March 8-11, 2005. The choice of Madrid to host the summit was to commemorate the victims of the terrorist bombings of March 11 th 2004.

The Summit brought together representatives from both the academic and professional world of international politics. It consisted of a mixture of high-level panel discussions, plenary sessions and guest speakers. The level of debate was an engaged and informed one with opinions and insight being offered by those with intimate knowledge of the international affairs and of the ramifications of terrorism itself.

A wide variety of panel discussions were open to those invited to attend the event and this afforded the opportunity to gain a comprehensive perspective of many different facets of the implication of terrorism on democracy and the response democracy can offer in face of mindless and senseless violence. The summit included a ceremony to commemorate the victims of the terrorist attack in Madrid a year ago and this served to ground the theoretical debate in the reality of day to day political life.

His Majesty Juan Carlos graced the Summit with his presence, and delivered an address on the dangers of terrorism and the hope and pride he felt for the way in which the Spanish people had dealt with the previous years� atrocities. United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan also delivered a speech on the importance of combating terrorism with education and a united effort to renew and respect human rights in the defence of democracy.

The event was considered a success by those who attended and it served to illustrate the depth of the international community united in the face of terrorism and highlighted the fervour to combat terrorism on a global scale.

In addition, Mr. Hill was invited to partipate in the Atocha Workshop on Global Terrorism, to be held in Madrid on March 11, 2005. The Workshop was organized and hosted by the Safe Democracy Foundation, and aimed to create a "repository of original thinking on Global Terrorism."

For more information on the International Seminar, the Atocha Workshop, the Club de Madrid or the Safe Democracy Foundation, please click on the links above.