The board of trustees of the Carinthian Democracy Workshop Denk.Raum.Fresach (DRF) has adopted guidelines against misguided developments in politics and economics at the conclusion of the 2026 European Tolerance Dialogues. The “Fresach Charter on Resistance and Responsibility” provides the foundation for why, when, and where resistance is necessary and how it should be carried out without causing harm, explains co-author Claus Reitan.
Resistance against illiberal and anti-democratic tendencies is appropriate at all levels, from the local community to the European Union. Human freedom also gives rise to the duty to resist when the law is broken and the value and dignity of humanity and nature are called into question. Democratic societies are founded on the achievements of great men and women who—out of a sense of responsibility—stood up against injustice.
Peace and freedom are only possible when humanity resists errors and unacceptable circumstances. It was precisely this resistance that contributed to political, humanitarian, technological, social, and ecological progress, and which is now enshrined in the rule of law and the separation of powers in secular democracies. Freedom of science and expression are inextricably linked to this.
And in the text: “Many popular trends and programs—such as artificial intelligence and populist-nationalist politics—must therefore be approached with caution and criticism. Should they restrict human freedom and dignity, they must be met with appropriate resistance, at least with those means that effectively halt them and mitigate any potential negative consequences.”
The paper acknowledges that well-understood resistance, born of responsibility, remains “a difficult exercise,” especially for those committed to a democratic and enlightened understanding of the world, to understanding, and to dialogue among people, according to co-author and initiator Claus Reitan. But resistance also clearly means confronting intolerance and paternalism with vehemence and appropriate means, according to author Claus Reitan.
