Strasbourg, the seat of many European institutions, will host the first World Forum for Democracy from 5 to 11 October. Unlike the EU, the European Council a co-organiser of the Forum works exclusively for human rights and freedoms. Democracy is still the mobilising force (for China’s opposition, Arab populations) but in the 21st century there is a real need for reform to address social inequalities and the crisis in political representation. In particular, the growing gap between ‘elites’ and the rest of the population (felt more and more in EU countries) requires building a new role for citizens and a new relationship between voters and those they elect