International Day of Democracy - 2025 - Part II

                   Almost two weeks ago, all the world celebrated the democracy. This text below was originally written by Chat-GPT, and I did some little changes on the original text.  I hope you enjoy your reading and understand the urgent task we all have to defend our human rights, our right to free speech, and the right that we all have to participate in the democratic process. And after this understanding join us in this worldwide movement for more democracy, political inclusion, my political right, governmental transparency, solidarity, human rights, justice, security and truth. And for more democracy, we need more activists candidates and more equality among the candidates.

               Every year, the International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity for people, governments, and institutions to reflect on the values that lie at the heart of free and fair societies. In 2025, the chosen theme—**“Democracy and Inclusion in an Age of Insecurity”**—is both timely and urgent. Around the globe, societies are grappling with insecurity in many forms: political instability, violent conflict, climate disasters, technological disruption, and growing inequality. At such a moment, the challenge is not only to preserve democratic systems but also to ensure that democracy remains inclusive, resilient, and responsive to the needs of all people.                                                                        Democracy is more than periodic elections. It is a framework of participation, accountability, and respect for human rights. Yet, insecurities of our time threaten to erode trust in democratic institutions. Economic crises make citizens doubt whether democracies can deliver prosperity. Misinformation campaigns and authoritarian tendencies fuel polarization and weaken social cohesion. Wars and geopolitical rivalries destabilize entire regions, displacing millions and leaving them voiceless. In this climate, marginalized groups—whether defined by gender, ethnicity, disability, or socioeconomic status—often bear the heaviest burdens. To speak about “democracy and inclusion” today means addressing these structural inequalities head-on.                       Inclusion lies at the core of democratic legitimacy. A democracy that excludes is a contradiction in terms. When any person is left outside the elections or the decision-making processes, societies lose valuable perspectives and weaken their democratic fabric. In an age of insecurity, exclusion magnifies grievances and can deepen instability. Conversely, inclusive democracies that guarantee equal participation and representation are better equipped to manage crises, because people see themselves reflected in the democratic system and thus remain invested in its survival. Technology represents both a promise and a peril for inclusion. Digital platforms allow citizens to organize, express their views, and mobilize across borders. At the same time, online spaces are often exploited to spread hate, manipulate information, and silence vulnerable voices. Safeguarding democracy today requires creating digital environments where participation is accessible, respectful, and protected from abuse. Governments, civil society, and private actors must work together to ensure that technology strengthens, rather than undermines, democratic inclusion.                                                                  Another pressing dimension of insecurity is the systematic human rights violations. Extreme policies to fight illegal immigration, insecurity, and freedom of speech are already challenging rule of law, international conventions and communities worldwide. Democracies that fail to include the voices of those most affected—such as human rights defenders,  communities leaders, activists, journalists and candidates to public offices risk enacting policies that are insufficient or unjust. A democratic and electoral systems that is inclusive, transparent, and participatory not only protects societies but also reinforces democratic legitimacy.  The theme also reminds us that insecurity does not justify authoritarian shortcuts. Too often, leaders exploit crises to consolidate power, restrict freedoms, or exclude certain groups under the guise of national security. True security is not merely the absence of immediate threats; it is the presence of justice, equality, and rights for all. Democracies that respect and empower all citizens are stronger in the face of challenges because they can draw on the creativity, resilience, and trust of their people.                                                                                            As we mark the International Day of Democracy in 2025, the message is clear: democracy must adapt without abandoning its foundations. Inclusion is not an optional ideal; it is a necessity for survival in insecure times. Policymakers must prioritize participation and representation in every reform. Civil society must continue to advocate for excluded voices in the politics. Citizens themselves must recognize their role in defending democratic values through active engagement, critical thinking, and solidarity with one another. Democracy has always been a work in progress. In today’s age of insecurity, its future depends on our collective commitment to making it inclusive. A democracy that listens, protects, and empowers all people will not only endure but also thrive, proving itself to be the most resilient answer to the insecurities of our age.

International Day of Democracy - 2025

               There is not democracy without human rights and there is not human rights without democracy. The worldwide movement for justice, democracy, human rights, political inclusion and my political rights is becoming stronger than ever. Once I'd like to thank all demonstration of support for my activism and political rights. It is good to know that my online activism that next year will complete two decades is being recognized as a force for democracy and human rights. This worldwide movement has became so huge, intense and prevalent in the last five years that nobody can deny its existence. Since 2020,  I have a YouTube channel, here is the link.  https://www.youtube.com/@lucianofietto4773/videos. Since the creation of this channel its visualization counter doesn't work, the same has been happening with the counter of this blog since its creation in 2010.  This post is a summary of three articles. The first was published at https://www.un.org/en/observances/democracy-day. The second was published at https://www.idea.int/events/international-democracy-day-brussels-2025-conference. The third was published at https://www.facebook.com/parwanekhanum.pkwo

                  Democracy draws its strength from people: their voice, their choices, and their participation in shaping their societies. It flourishes when rights are protected, particularly for those most often left behind. The Day of Democracy 2025 U.N. Scretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted, "the courage of people everywhere who are shaping their socities through dialogue, participation, and trust" deeming these efforts as more vital than ever "at a time when democracy abd the rule of law are under assault from disinformation, division and shrinking civic space." The U.N. Democracy Fund will host an event to highlight how democratic participation can be transformed "From Voice to Action". For 20 years, the U.N. Democracy Fund has played a crucial role in advancing democratic values across the globe. Through funding more than one thousand initiatives, U.N.D.E.F. has become a vital force in helping people shape their own future through dialogue, civic engagement, and democratic innovation. We celebrate not only the Fund's achievements, but also the courage of the individuals and communities it support, those who continue to defend democracy as a force for dignity, inclusion and peace.                                                                                                                                                               The International Democracy Day (IDD) Brussels Conference convenes global thought leaders, organisations and decision-makers in Brussels for dialogue on defending and advancing democracy. This year's theme,"A World Turned Upside Down: Democracy and Inclusion in an Age of Insecurity", addresses the urgent links between inclusive democracy, global security, and Europe's role in an increasingly volatile world. For 30 years, International IDEA has been a leader in providing comparative data and publications and convening with partners to champion democratic values across the globe. The IDD Brussels Conference 2025 opening session will mark International IDEA 's 30th anniversary unpacking how inclusion strengthens democracy and contributes to peace and security. The session will explore how democratic values can be embedded in international partnerships to promote mutual benefit and cooperation between the global north and south.                                                                                                                                              This year's theme for the International Day of Democracy 2025 is, "Democracy and Inclusion in a Age of Insecurity", remind us that democracy can only flourish when it is inclusive, participatory, and resilient against today's global challenges. At Parwane Khanum, we are committed to empowering communities, amplifying voices, and ensuring that inclusion remains at the heart of democratic progress. Let's work together to protect democratic values, safeguard civic spaces, and build a future where no voice is left unheard.

Reclaiming the Lost Century of Growth

               I have a YouTube channel, here is the link.  https://www.youtube.com/@lucianofietto4773/videos. Since the creation of this channel its visualization counter doesn't work, the same has been happening with the counter of this blog since its creation in 2010.    This post is a summary of the book with the title above, published in 2025 at https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/cbff530e-59b2-4f9c-b84e-e33e7f1f0a53/content

                   The growth strategy of the Latin America region has come under scrutiny. The indisputable fact is that growth in the region, even in the best-performing countries, remains too low to generate quality jobs and social progress. From 2010 to 2018, GDP grew on average 2.2%. Forecasts today are scarcely better, hovering around 2.5%. Further, the region tends to remain underdiversified and dependent on commodities. This disappointing performance is not a recent problem, nor are its causes new, nor is it particular to one economic model, nor will it be cured by a return to the industrial policies of the past. The region's history is full of missed opportunities for productivity growth and diversification that extends to recent decades. LA has experienced a prolonged income trap over a very long period of time. This volume argues that the cause lies in the region's frustrated process of becoming "learning economies." Development is fundamentally an experimental process of learning about new tech or ideas that can lead to  firms and areas comparative advantage. It is not enough for information to flow, countries need to learn how to assimilate these tech and to be able expanding the tech gap between advanced economies and exploit new opportunities for growth. In LA's lost century of growth arose because t did not "learn how to learn" about the new advances arriving in the second industrial revolution. LA inablity to follow suit resulted in a lack of competitiveness that led not only to low growth, but also to an acute sense of dependency and demands for protection that morphed into distortive industrial policies that compounded the shorfalls in capabilities, rather than remedying them. LA countries invest far less than the advanced economies in innovation of all types. One explanation for this lack of investment is the absence of complementary factors, ranging from credit to skilled labor, and ther elements of the enabling environment. What does this imply for a 21st century growth strategy? Such strategy will require a set of reforms related to developing this learning capacity and actively seeking insertion in the global knowledge economy. Learning to use and leverage frontier knowledge requires participation of both the source and the receiving country. This focus on learning is even more relevant with the emerging trade in services, which is likely to be more important going forward than manufacturing, because the link between value added and the capabilities of the workforce is more direct. About 90% of Chinese patents, for example, are joint with Taiwanese or US companies suggesting that they should be seen more as "exports" of high-end engineering services. India is also upgrading from call centers to technical services exports with major US firms relocating there. The reason for the disappointing growth performance is straightforward: LA entered the second industrial revolution unarmed and unable to assimilate new technologies and manage the associated risk. Though in 1950s, foreign libraries were a better source of knowledge about LA mining than ones in LA. Further, throughout LA, there was a lack of demand for new technologies, and for the engineers necessary to exploit them. LA continues to be the child for the innovation paradox, ranking below average in innovation performance, from basic education outcomes to R&D, despite returns to nvestment that, in theory, could exceed 60%. Universities develop advanced skills through education and produce new knowledge through research. But they also have a third mission, to provide knowledge public goods with respect to innovation, technology, and firm capabilities. They serve as antennae to identify new ideas, help adapt and diffuse knowledge and bring new knowledge to market by serving as seedbeds for new industries. Universities in LA fall short in their 3 mission. In education, to be fair, LA problems begin early on, with foundational skills. LA continues to lag comparable countries in basic math and writing. Learning proficiency (the fraction of children 10-14 years old who can understand a text) in the median LA is 41%, roughly half that of East Asia and Europe. Similar deficits exist in higher education. Further, though access to higher education is high, only half of enrolled students graduate, among graduates, only 17% obtain a degree in a field related to science, tech, engineering and math,(STEM) thus tying LA with Sub-Saharan Africa for last place among regions. Research output is low relative to comparable countries and has little impact. In the SCImago Institutions Ranking for innovation, which gives equal weight to the number of patent applications, % of publication output cited in patents, and number of publications cited in patents, LA accounts for only 0,5% of the world's top 1,000 universities. This % is second to last after Sub-Saharan Africa. The third mission is largely absent among LA universities. Firms in LA report less interaction with industry in R&D activities than in any other region. Joint academic-industry patents per 100,000 people over the last 6 years reached 0.5 in LA compared to close to eight for Spain and US. Whatever the drivers, the collaboration between universities and the private sector is not only a driving force in innovation ecosystems such as Silicon Valley in the US, but has also been critical to the Asian and Nordic success stories in every sector, from forestry to microchips. Taking a focus on technology-based firms the number of startups has increased, but their prevalence remains low. The region has also experienced a rise in unicorns (firms with capitalization of more than US$1 billion) to 52 in 2022 from a mere four 5 years earlier. While this is good news, NYC alone is home to 9,000 tech startups worth over US$189 billion, and the low value of unicorns as a share of GDP in LA, at 1.4%, is above only one region, Sub-Saharan Africa. There is increasing evidence that progress can be made in increasing the supply of  entrepreneurs. The region, however, starts from a disadvantage: both the weak educational fundamentals and the low density of STEM graduates means that there is a weak pipeline of potential tech entrepreneurs. A 2024 report by the European Commission on competitiveness in Europe points to weighty government regulation and labor market rigidities as barriers to entrepreneurship, and LA ranks poorly in both. Large firms in Brazil have more staff dedicated to taxes than to R&D. Increasing productivity growth and diversification through innovation is the only long-term solution to alleviating poverty and promotion social mobility. To conclude, growth occurs only by a process of informed bets on new tech, processes, products, and markets that, if well selected, generate gains in value added over time. Development might be thought of as the process through which economies and societies learn how to learn. This requires learning on the part of the private sector, but also on the part of the government that needs to begin setting an enabling environment that facilitate technological adoption and then encourages learning by firms and potential entrepreneurs.