Debating democracy and its challenges in Athens

"Is what is old new again?" A timeless question heralded the advent of the sixth annual Athens Democracy Forum, convened by The New York Times and aiming to dissect democracy's biggest challenges in its very birthplace.

In the shadow of the Parthenon on Sunday afternoon the Acropolis Museum's auditorium was brimming with life as participants gathered to attend "a Socrates-Confucius dialogue" - a fascinating introductory event that consulted the classical philosophical sages of East and West in order to find new insights and reboot today's democracies.

The sharp reasoning of the great Greek philosopher was brought to life with wit and theatricality by Professor Angie Hobbs from the University of Sheffield, while across the stage, Professor Joseph Chan from the University of Hong Kong represented the wisdom and sincerity of Confucius.

The discussion was...