The Toronto Democracy Forum 2025 is convened by the World Anti Extremism Network (WAEN) in collaboration with a number of partners at the University of Toronto. The gathering will bring together scholars, activists, and thought leaders from around the world to explore how civic resistance can counter authoritarianism and the rise of religious extremism in today’s world.
Across the globe, democratic aspirations are under siege by authoritarian regimes, radical ideologies, and shrinking civic space. But communities are pushing back. Through peaceful protest, grassroots movements, storytelling, and strategic resistance, citizens are reclaiming space and building alternatives. This year’s theme, Civil Resistance Against Authoritarian and Religious Radicalism, asks participants to examine these responses, learn from one another, and explore the role each one can play in healing fractured systems and wounded societies.
Note that the registration deadline is October 31, 2025.