9:35 am Keynote Speech I: Democratic Deficit: Reclaiming Power from Supranational Elites

Over the past seventy five years, national governments have increasingly transferred elements of their sovereignty and authority to supranational institutions. From organizations such as the European Union and the United Nations to international frameworks including the Paris Climate Agreement and the European Convention on Human Rights, states often find their policy space constrained when addressing critical challenges such as criminal justice, economic development, and migration. At the same time, the largely unelected character of many supranational bodies raises important questions about democratic legitimacy. In this keynote address, Matt Goodwin examines the consequences of this shift, argues against the continued surrender of authority to supranational elites, and outlines how democratic governments might reclaim the capacity to act on behalf of their citizens.