This initiative is participatory and intercultural, in that its production process involves youth from various countries working together to use the media of documentary film/video and computing/the internet to share ideas about the issue of democracy/governance. The commissioned films were selected from over 600 submissions on the strength of their engagement with questions such as the following: Is any society in the world truly democractic? What does democracy mean if you live below the poverty line? Is capitalism good for democracy? What kind of democracy can we build in the 21st Century? A key strategy in the selection process involved, firstly, not centring the film around any specific country or event but - rather - focusing on democracy as an idea. In addition, the films that were selected are, according to organisers, not overtly prescriptive. As the organisers express it, "These are not films by experts, about experts, telling us what 'the situation is' in Iraq, or Chile, or South Africa, or Iran...They are human stories, providing more questions than answers, but speaking a language that everyone understands."

Specifically, 10 one-hour films focused on contemporary democracy will be broadcast; as of this writing, 45 broadcasters on all continents are participating, with an estimated audience of a minimum 300 million viewers. The films were crafted by independent filmmakers from different countries around the world, including Bolivia, China, Denmark, India, Japan, Liberia, Russia, and the United States. In addition, 18 short films (5-12 minutes in length) that address personal, political, and rights human issues have been produced under the theme "What does democracy mean to me?"

Information and communication technology (ICT) is central to this project not only because of its focus on filmmaking, but because of its use of a website to share details about the films and spur reaction to them, and dialogue about them. Information about all of the films (as well as other details about the project) are available on the Why Democracy? website. Selected short films will be uploaded on the website for educational purposes. Run by the group of young people from across the world referenced above, this website provides forums, chatrooms, and blogs that are open to all; users can upload their own films. There are also interactive polls designed to get people talking about democracy and governance issues. In addition, post-broadcast, the films are being distributed on DVD in a number of world languages, available to institutions, organisations, and individuals interested in promoting open dialogue about democracy.

Democracy & Governance.