Can Democracy Reinvent the State? | George Papandreou

Can democracy reinvent the state before anti-democratic forces do it for us? Former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou argues that creative bureaucracy must go beyond administrative innovation. It must restore imagination to politics and enable citizens to become co-creators of their shared future. Drawing on his experience leading Greece through the global financial crisis and his work as General Rapporteur on Democracy at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Papandreou examines how lost agency, dignity and public trust can fuel anger and populism. From transparent public spending and open appointments to citizen assemblies, digital deliberation and collective intelligence, he explores how institutions can listen, deliver and make democracy tangible. This address was delivered following the Global Forum of Public Service Leaders on 10 June 2026. Recorded at the Creative Bureaucracy Festival 2026 in Berlin, the world’s largest festival for public sector innovation. Across around 90 sessions, approximately 230 speakers and pioneering projects from 50 countries explored how creative, capable and future-ready public institutions can strengthen democracy. The Festival returns for its tenth-anniversary edition on 2–3 June 2027 at Alte Münze in Berlin. Save the date and discover more English- and German-language sessions on our channel. Website: https://creativebureaucracy.org/ Facebook:   / creativebureaucracyfestival   Instagram:   / creativebureaucracyfest   Threads: https://www.threads.com/@creativebure... LinkedIn:   / 15837395   #Democracy #CitizenParticipation #GovernmentInnovation