On the evening of 17 March, the IIRE together with the Amsterdam-based scholar-activist think tank, Transnational Institute (TNI), organised a public debate on the concept of Popular/Participatory Democracy. Keynote speaker was British, radical-feminist and TNI Fellow Hilary Wainwright, who is currently on tour throughout Europe with a new and revised edition of her book Reclaim the State: Experiments in Popular Democracy (Seagull Books, 2009). Drawing from experiences found in places like Porto Alegre, Brazil and East Manchester in England, Wainwright spoke about the relevance of popular and participatory democracy today and the dangers of cooptation of lefty language by right wing forces. To kick off the debate, IIRE Chair of Board Joost Kirzc inserted his 10-year experience as an Amsterdam City central district counsellor. Kirzc argued for creating parallel structures while dismantling the state. The public debate was attended by about 50 (mostly young) residents of Amsterdam and moderated by IIRE Executive Co-director Bertil Videt. Segments of the activity will be aired on Dutch television VPRO in May.