At a time when democracies are under strain and progress on global sustainability goals is faltering, The American College of Greece hosted a timely lecture by Professor James Bacchus on April 20, 2026, at the ACG Events Hall. Co-organized by the Theodore Papalexopoulos Sustainability Dialogues, the Institute for Hellenic Growth and Prosperity, and The Demos Center, the event connected today’s global challenges with an idea rooted just a few kilometers away: the birthplace of democracy itself. The Papalexopoulos Dialogues, an Alba initiative, aim to foster interdisciplinary conversations on sustainability by connecting global thought leaders with the ACG community around pressing economic, political, and societal challenges.
Opening the evening, ACG President Dr. Ed Wingenbach highlighted two troubling trajectories shaping the world: rising authoritarianism and the growing inability to meet sustainability goals. These, he emphasized, are not separate crises, but deeply interconnected. At the core of addressing them lies a renewed commitment to inclusive participation—an idea central to both democratic practice and liberal education.
Drawing on his latest book, Democracy for a Sustainable World: The Path from the Pnyx, Bacchus argued that today’s global challenges stem from a shared problem: a deepening distrust of governments, institutions, and expertise. From climate change to inequality, the issue is not only what decisions are made, but whether democratic systems can still engage citizens and sustain public trust. At the same time, Bacchus offered a hopeful perspective. Referring to examples such as the International Space Station, he pointed to what humanity can achieve through cooperation and urged a shift from national competition to shared responsibility.
Central to his argument was a conceptual return to the Pnyx. While acknowledging the limitations of ancient Athenian democracy, Bacchus emphasized its enduring lesson: the remedy for distrust is participation. True self-rule, he argued, requires citizens to be directly involved in public decision-making. To that end, he proposed complementing representative democracy with sortition—the random selection of citizens—as a way to strengthen democratic institutions. By combining the “best of individual wisdom” with the “best of collective wisdom,” such an approach could foster more inclusive governance, rebuild trust, and incorporate longer-term perspectives, including those of younger generations.
The panel discussion that followed brought these ideas into sharper focus. Joining Bacchus were Dr. Wingenbach and Associate Professor Effie Fokas, in a conversation moderated by Professor Pavlos Vlachos. A key theme was that participation cannot simply be encouraged—it must be enabled. Speakers explored the conditions needed for meaningful engagement, from education and critical thinking to institutional structures that support inclusive decision-making. Liberal education, in particular, was highlighted as essential preparation for active and responsible citizenship.
The panel also addressed the relationship between participation and deliberation, noting that democratic engagement is learned through practice. Issues of polarization, misinformation, and trust were also central to the discussion. Rebuilding democracy, panelists noted, requires not only institutional reform but also renewed dialogue. Face-to-face engagement, in particular, was emphasized as a powerful way to bridge divides, reveal common ground, and build the trust necessary for collective decision-making.
The Q&A session further explored questions of inclusion and representation. Bacchus underscored that participatory models based on random selection must be accessible and practically supported, including through compensation and measures that enable broader participation.
Held in Athens, just a short distance from the Pnyx, the event offered more than a reflection on democratic theory. It invited participants to consider how the principles of participation and collective responsibility might be renewed to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. As Bacchus suggests, the path forward may begin with a simple yet powerful idea: trusting people to govern themselves.
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