The doors of the Palais de l’Europe, in Strasbourg, are about to open for the World Forum for Democracy 2024, a yearly event that since 2012, at the invitation of the Council of Europe, has been gathering politicians, academicians, young people, journalists, members of civil society to discuss democracy from constantly-changing perspectives. The official opening is due to take place on November 6th, and the theme of this year’s Forum will be “democracy and diversity: can we transcend the divides?” The meaning of such yearly meetings is summed up in a video: the dynamics of globalisation and the difficulty of turning participatory democracy into reality are leading to a “disconnect between the people and the governing institutions”. Yet now more than ever, in the territories, citizens know how to organise themselves and let themselves be involved in initiatives and movements that actually bring about democratic processes around the world. The point is – the video goes on – finding ways to “connect these movements and initiatives to the political institutions and bring democratic innovation straight into the government”. Actually, part of the Forum is focussed on reflecting upon the key challenges and changes under way, but a part gathers a number of good practices and innovative plans that are suggestive of an active democratic life beyond the borders of the institutions and political parties.