Timeline

Club de Madrid Annual Policy Dialogues, 2002–2026

The Annual Policy Dialogue is Club de Madrid's flagship event. Each year, democratic former presidents and prime ministers meet experts, policymakers, business and civil society to produce policy recommendations on one global theme. The 2020 and 2021 editions ran online or in hybrid form, which is when event sites on dialoguescdm.org were used.

Last reviewed: 8 October 2026 · Independent archive, not affiliated with Club de Madrid

United Nations General Assembly hall in New York — UN General Assembly hall. The 2020 dialogue fed its conclusions into the UN75 process. Photo: Wikimedia Commons – author and licence on the file page

Timeline of Annual Policy Dialogues

Annual Policy Dialogues as listed by Club de Madrid (no dialogue listed for 2017 or 2024)
Year	Theme
2002	Democracy and I General Assembly
2003	The role of the International Monetary Fund and its contribution to democratic governance
2004	Democracies in danger: diagnoses and prescriptions
2005	International Summit on Democracy, Security and Terrorism; Democracy in the post-communist world
2006	The challenges of energy and democratic leadership
2007	Democratizing energy: geopolitics and power
2008	Leadership for Shared Societies
2009	Political dimensions of the world economic crisis
2010	Reconstruction and democratic development: the case of Haiti
2011	Digital technologies for 21st century democracy
2012	Harnessing 21st century solutions: a focus on women; Asia Pacific Forum
2013	Societies that work – jobs for inclusive growth, a call to the G-20; South Caucasus Forum
2014	II Global Shared Societies Forum; Democracy and human rights in decline? (Florence, 24–25 Nov)
2015	Preventing and countering violent extremism
2016	Inclusive, sustainable and resilient cities in the Belt and Road Initiative
2018	Education for Shared Societies
2019	Digital transformation and the future of democracy (Madrid, 21–22 Oct)
2020	Multilateralism that Delivers (virtual, 20 and 28–30 Oct)
2021	Rethinking Democracy (hybrid, 27–29 Oct)
2022	Leading in a world of converging crises (Berlin, 31 Oct–1 Nov)
2023	Rethinking social development for people and planet (Brasília, 13–14 Nov)
2025	International financial reform: driving sustainable futures for all (Nairobi, 3–4 Apr)
2026	Governing and delivering global public goods in a fragmented world

How a Policy Dialogue works

Since the late 2010s the format has followed a recognisable pattern:

Working groups led by partner institutions prepare background papers on three sub-themes.
Action Labs – smaller sessions – test and refine proposals, usually one per working group.
Plenary dialogue brings Club de Madrid members together with experts and institutions.
Outcome document – a Call to Action, concluding document or policy recommendations – is carried into multilateral processes such as the UN, G20 or EU.

How the themes evolved

Early dialogues dealt with democratic transition, energy and economic crises. From 2008 the concept of “Shared Societies” – inclusive societies that leave no group behind – became a recurring frame. From 2019 the focus moved to digital transformation, multilateralism, democratic resilience and, most recently, the financing of sustainable development and global public goods.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Club de Madrid Annual Policy Dialogue?

Club de Madrid's flagship yearly meeting, where democratic former leaders and experts develop policy recommendations on a global theme.

Which Policy Dialogues were virtual?

The 2020 dialogue “Multilateralism that Delivers” was held virtually; the 2021 dialogue “Rethinking Democracy” was hybrid.

Where was the 2022 Policy Dialogue held?

At the Bertelsmann Representation, Unter den Linden 1, Berlin, on 31 October and 1 November 2022.

Was there a Policy Dialogue in 2024?

The Club de Madrid index does not list a 2024 dialogue; the 2023 edition in Brasília started a three-year process running through 2025.