SNF Nostos 2023: Barack Obama says “The Spirit Born in Athens Inspires People Around the World.”

Obama underscored the danger posed by extreme-right populist parties in Europe and the United States, noting their tendencies to prioritise winning elections at any cost, which can involve dismantling norms and manipulating voting regulations.

Former US President Barack Obama delivered a speech at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Nostos Conference 2023, which took place in southern Athens on Thursday. The conference, hosted at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, brought together researchers and activists to discuss the advancements made in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiative and address topics like loneliness and its impact on mental well-being.

As part of the conference, Obama engaged in a dialogue with SNF Co-President Andreas Dracopoulos, focusing on the reinforcement of democratic values and the importance of investing in the next generation of leaders. Obama emphasised that democracy has the potential to succeed if given an opportunity, while acknowledging its challenging nature due to the necessity of coexisting with individuals holding differing viewpoints.

Obama underscored the danger posed by extreme-right populist parties in Europe and the United States, noting their tendencies to prioritise winning elections at any cost, which can involve dismantling norms and manipulating voting regulations.

This marks the second consecutive year that Obama has participated in the SNF Nostos Conference.

“It is the duty of those who have a platform and resources to encourage young people, to pass the baton to them, to start becoming active citizens in a time of challenges,” said former US President Barack Obama speaking at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation in framework of SNF Nostos 2023 on Mental Health, and with a key theme of ways to strengthen democracy and the importance of supporting the next generation of leaders.

He spoke about the strong Greek element in the US and especially in his hometown of Chicago, mentioning that the spirit born in Athens inspires people around the world.

He also underlined that the USA has the uniqueness of being able to live within the country of people from different cultures, religions and nationalities and to be able to coexist harmoniously, saying, “What makes the US unique is that we have multiple races, religions and we got along […] we can live together, the central idea of ​​the US is that we can live together and respect each other.”

At another point in his speech he noted that “I am convinced that we have different experiences, but also some basic commonalities to build alliances, Democracy can work if it has a chance.”

“Democracy is a harsh form of government,” the former US President pointed out. “Because it means you have to live side by side with someone who has not only different ideas than you in some cases, but a completely opposite worldview.

What is particularly dangerous is that we see some of the far-right populist parties in Europe, and in the United States, giving the impression that they will do anything to win and they will break down the norms, the barriers, they will manipulate the voting rules, he pointed out.