IMPACT
SUMMIT

Democracy and its principles are under immense pressure in countries around the world. They are being weakened by hybrid warfare, the relativisation of facts, and admiration for authoritarian styles of leadership. The undermining and questioning of the role of civil society only adds to this pressure. All of this contributes to the polarisation of society, including in Slovakia.

In response to this negative trend, we are organising the Impact Summit — an event that will bring together representatives of the civic, public and corporate sectors, as well as academia. We believe that people from these fields should engage in conversations about important societal issues, share experiences in finding solutions, and collaborate with one another.

This year’s Impact Summit will centre around the idea of new confidence. While resilience remains essential, today we also need the ability to make decisions, take action, and have a clear sense of direction. We see new confidence not as a reaction to crises, but as the capacity of individuals, companies and institutions to act with conviction, take responsibility, and contribute to solutions that go beyond the boundaries of their own sector.

We will also explore where societies draw their confidence from today — and what undermines it. Where is the line between healthy pride in one’s country and closing oneself off from the world? And why is it important to come to terms with our own past?