A Freer World (cont’d)
According to Freedom House, 39 countries were fully democratic in 1974. By 2006 the total increased to 90. Although global democratization has slowed down since the 1990s, a widespread international consensus has emerged that democracy is the most just and effective way of organizing society.

The facts speak loudly and clearly: Politicians in democratic countries are more likely to find solutions to policy problems, due to the pressures of electoral accountability. Freedom also means that individuals – in particular young people – are better able to exploit what Lord Dahrendorf refers to as “life chances” in their search for personal fulfillment. In addition, democratic states are unlikely to go to war with one another because of shared values and interdependence. Finally, people in low-income countries are less likely to suffer from underdevelopment in a democratic society because of superior mechanisms of accountability, transparency and anti-corruption when compared with non-democracies. Measured by the many positive and radical changes it has brought, the widespread embrace of democracy during the second half of the twentieth century constitutes a revolution in the truest sense of the word.

Despite the clear advantages of freedom and democracy, however, 45 countries still have repressive political systems, and nearly a quarter of the world’s population lives under one form of tyranny or another. In addition, the values underlying freedom and democracy remain threatened in many developed nations, where the importance of monetary wealth has become so central as to trump and displace all other values, leaving many people locked in an endless spiral of ceaseless accumulation.

The Shape of Things to Come
While focusing on the lives of those who fought for the many benefits of democracy and liberty, “Revolution” will assess the impact of new and potentially more powerful forces affecting the lives of today’s young people, such as technology, unprecedented access to information, and the diminishing relevance of international borders in an increasingly “globalized” world.

Few would argue that we do not benefit from contemporary scientific and technological innovations, such as the Internet. However, some question whether the preponderance of technologies that make life more convenient have not also served to distance people from one another and weaken traditional bonds, such as those of family relations, community and the workplace. And despite its apparent promise, globalization also shows few signs of giving rise to a new global ethos. Instead, some believe that it is merely a form of economic expansionism, whose primary trait is the love of money.

By examining the struggles of people who fought to realize non-violent social transformation, Agora Productions will probe the underlying values which motivated people and make this information accessible to young people. In doing so, we aim to show young people what is possible and inspire them to consider the many ways in which they can change their societies for the better. Our approach will bring to life a dialogue between young people and those who fought during times of revolutionary change for the freedom they enjoy today. It will also affirm for young adults in countries where basic rights are denied that they are not alone in their struggle.