DEMOCRACY IN DANGER Tampere Film Festival's theme programme, Democracy in Danger, makes us stop and consider the state of democracy. The programme includes films from different
decades from Finland and abroad. The programme is divided into three screenings that deal with everyday democracy and citizen activism. The programme also includes Jouko Aaltonen's feature documentary, How to Fix the World from 2023. In addition to the screenings, there are
also panel discussions open for all, – – as we
ll as a seminar in collaboration with the Democracy Research Network of Tampere University. WHO ARE YOU? I'm Matias Heikkilä, a researcher of
politics from Tampere University. I'm Jouko Aaltonen, a documentary
filmmaker, both director and producer. I'm Lauri Lahikainen, I'm a researcher of social
philosophy and ethics at Tampere University. I'm Otto, and I'm part of this Extinction Rebellion video team. DEMOCRACY It's kind of a way for people to get
organised amongst themselves. To make deci
sions on things that affect all of them. Collaborative decision-making
among people who are equals. Democracy isn't only parliamentary, it isn't
just representative democracy, – – instead, democracy is a broader concept than that. Demonstrations and freedom of speech are
very essential to democracy. THREATS TO DEMOCRACY Democracy is threatened in the world – – because the geopolitical situation has gotten more tense, – – the number of countries with authoritarian
leadership is increasing, –
– and in general, the atmosphere is getting tougher. So, is there room for alternatives in politics? The kinds of alternatives that the people, citizens, want. For example, if people feel like
they're not being represented, – – then, in many cases, politicians that are a bit more radical
might gain popularity. They might be called populists. Those politicians would then rise up to represent these people that have previously felt like they haven't been represented. These values that could even
have been considered old, – – these nationalist and extremely
right-wing values have clearly returned. On one hand, it seems like, when you
measure democracy in certain ways, – – when you look at freedom of press, or freedom of
speech, or how actively people vote, for example, – – democracy may not be any more
threatened now that it's been in the past. But when you consider democracy to be people that are each other's equals or peers coming together to make decisions, – – you'll see there's
many different
societal phenomena going on – – that in some ways maybe separate people
from each other or cause inequality. WAYS TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY Education. Meaning, a person needs to have information on what's going on in the world and what they can do to make a difference. Well, I think that democracy doesn't need to be
protected with any special actions. The fact that there's tensions in society,
and plenty of different opinions, – – to me, that's an essential part of democracy. Becau
se this is something that dictatorships,
for example, don't have. Dictatorships may seem very cohesive on the surface, and like there's not many dissenting opinions, – – but that only means that that
society is highly controlled. People getting involved themselves, citizen activism, voting,
being active in organisations or political parties. EVERYDAY DEMOCRACY Grassroots democracy is important, – – tenant democracy is important, – – and it's also important that people have democratic
rights
at their workplaces, for example. So it's essential to the heart of democracy – – that it's actualised in every part of society. You can advance democracy every day by using it. By using your freedom of speech, and freedom of
expression, and freedom of assembly. MEANS OF ACTIVISM The most effective thing is publicity. Bringing things into the public eye,
bringing up the kinds of perspectives – – that the media hasn't realised they should bring up,
or sometimes hasn't wanted to bring up. A dem
onstration that gets no attention
is not an impactful demonstration. DEMOCRACY & THE MEDIA People must have information about the world
so that they can form their own opinions, – – and have that opinion be somehow based on facts, – – and on people being able to come together and think about how we should act in this situation and where we are. The media is one of the forums in which
democracy is discussed. I'd maybe wish for more of
self-criticism from the media. The media tends to be sort
of middle
class and maybe even a little smug. Some researchers think that these social media
bubbles are a threat to democracy, – – but at the same time they can provide new
forums for democratic discussion. DEMOCRACY & THE ARTS Art can be a way to imagine what
the future might hold, – – or what could happen in different situations. So this is one part of it, art gives us a sort of – – it sort of helps us think about what
kind of a future we'd like to live out. Another thing that art can te
ll us – – is how things feel – – from the perspective of someone living under
completely different circumstances. And this is also essential to democracy, – – because if we want democracy to be shared decision-
making among people that are equals, – – then that means that we also have to understand people who are living in situations completely different to ours. Art plays an important part in this, as well. FILM:
HOW TO FIX THE WORLD My film "How to Fix the World" – – is about the direct act
ion movements of the early 2000s,
and the activists that were active in these movements. Previously, I've made quite a few films
about different movements: – About political movements, but about religious
movements as well, for example. Activism in the 2000s – there hadn't
been any films about it. In general, it hasn't really been talked about, – – unlike maybe some other movements
of the previous decades. Thus, I felt it important that this subject, too, would be
approached with the tools
of documentary filmmaking. FILM:
HOW TO SAVE A FOREST We interviewed this old forest activist. And they mentioned Talaskangas, how they had
been there when they were fifteen years old. The priority might be reminding people
that the situation is critical, – – and how much there is that has been left undone – – so that people wouldn't fall into this apathy. If there aren't any positive examples of successful campaigns,
that, too, may play a factor in someone's apathy, – – so it was important
to us that we could show this case that
was a huge win for the environmental movement. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT OF THE PANEL
DISCUSSIONS AT THE FESTIVAL? I expect to hear the kinds of perspectives – – and surprising ideas that I never
could have thought of on my own. OTHER THOUGHTS? Democracy isn't – – it isn't some endangered animal, so to speak,
that should be preserved or saved as such. Democracy is a process. It is a tool and a means of making the world better. I wish a certain kind of courag
e for all of us – – to take up more space, and sort of... To take up space in society, take up space in decision-making, – – because this isn't a system that has been sort of made
out to be a specific thing that can't change. If you want something to change, you
have the chance to have an impact. Have courage and the belief that you can
make a difference in things that affect you. FILM FOOTAGE: How to Fix the World (Jouko Aaltonen, 2023); How to Save a Forest (Extinction Rebellion, 2023); Las
t Day (Cyprien Clément-Delmas, 2021); Flores del Otro Patio (Jorge Cadena, 2022)
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