Imagine the following:
The streets of Amsterdam, once filled with the buzz of tourists and the hum of commerce, now echo with the heavy tread of police boots and the murmurs of a discontented populace. In cities and towns across the Netherlands, the police force, now an instrument of state repression, cracks down with ruthless efficiency. Protests are met with batons and tear gas. Midnight raids quietly remove dissident voices. Those who champion human rights and democracy find refuge in neighbouring Germany, England, and Belgium.
It began gradually and insidiously. Promises of security, stability, and national pride captured the hearts of many disillusioned citizens. The ruling party, under the guise of protecting national interests, has gradually dismantled the institutions that kept its power in check.
You are the ruling party. How did you make this happen?
Participants of MATRA Rule of Law training
The Democracy Game
As part of our recent training on Democratic Institutions, participants were challenged to destabilise Dutch democracy within a 20-year span. They had to assume the role of anti-democratic players seeking to undermine democratic institutions. Through a series of escalating scenarios they could orchestrate, through rousing speeches and tactical manoeuvres, their own rise to power in the Dutch political system.
The players created political parties and chose controversial talking points to rally around, adjusting their rhetoric and actions in response to the scenario’s outcomes. They fearmongered, slandered the press, intimidated the judiciary, and spread misinformation to erode citizens’ trust in the system—just enough to make their autocratic parties an appealing alternative.
Once voted into government, they were tasked to think about how they would most effectively change the political power structure in order to maintain their position of power.
Learning through Play
‘Serious Games’ connect abstract concepts with practical challenges. By providing scenarios in which they can immerse themselves, players are motivated to engage with the material in new ways, learning through play. This method encourages ongoing participation and challenges players to consider new perspectives through experience.
Raising awareness on Democratic Backsliding
After the game, participants were asked to reflect on the different scenarios and the outcomes. By reflecting and sharing experiences, they gained a better understanding of the mechanisms that can undermine democratic systems. Moreover, they were better able to recognise the actions that non-democratic forces often take. The game demonstrated the fragility of democracy and emphasised the importance of understanding the warning signs of democratic backsliding.
“It was really a fun game, but it also made us realise how easy it was to destabilise a democracy,” one participant remarked.
Strengthening Democratic Institutions in Eastern Europa
The training Democratic Institutions is designed and implemented by The Hague Academy and The Netherlands Helsinki Committee. The programme discusses how government institutions can be designed to foster democratic policies that promote participation and social justice, thereby increasing trust in the government and decreasing the distance between the government and citizens.
The training is part of the MATRA Rule of Law Training (ROLT)-programme which aims to strengthen institutional capacity of government organisations in Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. Click here to find out more.
If you are interested in learning more about promoting democratic processes and citizen engagement in decision-making, check out our Citizen Participation and Inclusive Governance course.