Voices in the Room - Stories & democracy

Course Description

In this session, we'll explore how sharing stories shapes democratic spaces. We'll begin by thinking about moments when you felt truly heard versus times you felt ignored—what made the difference? If you're comfortable, you can share these experiences, though there's no pressure. We'll discuss why storytelling matters for politics: it's not just about policies and procedures, but about whose voices are included. Philosopher Jürgen Habermas argued that democracy requires spaces where everyone can speak and be genuinely heard. Axel Honneth showed that being recognized and valued is essential to human dignity and participation. We might also learn from other storytelling traditions—indigenous voices, for example, often centre oral histories and collective narratives in decision-making, offering different models of how communities listen and learn together. By the end, we'll understand that democratic legitimacy isn't just about voting—it's about creating spaces where diverse stories are welcomed, where listening is taken seriously, and where everyone feels they genuinely matter in shaping our shared future. * This is a free event. We are self-funded and doing this because we believe it is important. However, we also have to pay our bills. If you feel inclined to, and are able to, please consider supporting us via a contribution paypal.me/ThinkersMeetUp - but, please, no pressure :)