SKOPJE-FLORENCE, July 30, 2025 — Eyes on Democracy, produced under the Defending Democracy Global Initiative, has released Episode 2: Reclaim Power, Demand Accountability, Embrace Dialogue. In this installment, Roger Casale and Jabir Deralla explore the evolving democratic landscape of Europe—and how Ukraine’s democratic resilience could be a blueprint for the continent’s future.
The episode, available online free of charge under a Creative Commons license, outlines a three-stage transformation of Europe—from its idealistic founders and economic integration to a nascent citizens’ Europe.
Roger Casale argues that Ukraine’s post-conflict reconstruction offers a model for this third phase, where ordinary citizens help shape the democratic trajectory of their nation and influence Europe as a whole.
Jabir Deralla introduces the Political Compass, a framework plotting democratic values, and human rights and freedoms. He connects this model to four major European political blocs—social democratic, green, center-right, and far-right—highlighting the gap between professed values and real-world performance in government and opposition.
Why It Matters
This episode challenges listeners to reconsider democracy as an active practice—not just a set of affiliations. Casale and Deralla call for a renewed European project rooted in:
- Integrity over ideological branding.
- Citizen participation over bureaucratic consolidation.
- Value-driven governance, even under political pressure.
Ukraine’s struggle is thus not only its own national story, but a signal to Europe: reclaim power, insist on accountability, and embrace open dialogue.
Episode 2 is freely accessible on YouTube, major podcast platforms, and CIVIL’s media platform. It is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, encouraging sharing, adaptation, and reuse with proper credit.
About
Hosted by Jabir Deralla, journalist and founder of CIVIL – Centre for Freedom, and Roger Casale, former UK MP, initiator of the Westminster Alliance for Ukraine, the podcast Eyes on Democracy examines democratic backsliding, civic resilience, and democratic renewal across Europe and beyond.
CIVIL Media News Desk
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Ukraine’s Recovery and the Power of Global Solidarity | Eyes on Democracy (FULL TRANSCRIPT)
