Global and Regional Issues in Democracy Building ......1. Global Context on Issues of Democracy Building The enormous challenges involved in rebuilding functioning states from above

Global and Regional Issues in DemocracyBuilding: Perspective on Recent Trends

Presentation ByAbdalla Hamdok, PhD

Regional Director for Africa and the Middle EastInternational IDEA

Presented at the 7th Doha Forum on Democracy, Development andFree Trade

April 24, 2007, Doha, Qatar

Copyright © International IDEA

1. Global Context on Issues of DemocracyBuilding

The enormous challenges involved in rebuildingfunctioning states from above and outside, have absorbedmuch of the energy and resources of the internationalcommunity.

Have also alerted public opinion as never before to thecomplexities of building democracy.

The recognition that democratic development is a non-linear process.

Problems of security, legitimacy, local ownership, theinterplay of cultural, religious and democratic values.


Global Context on Issues of Democracy Building

The importance of the “process” as well as design ofpolitical institutions, and the need for a very long termperspective.

Also the importance of the context. Can't just transferinstitutions - they will work differently in differentpolitical and institutional environments.

The approaches to democracy building and conflictmanagement need to be based on extensive dialogue andconsensus building with local stakeholders.


Global Context on Issues of Democracy Building

The need for comparative experience in other situations isvery relevant.

Also the democratic governance must be seen to have aninstrumentalist value and relevance to improving humandevelopment in order for stakeholders to buy-into theculture of democracy.

A caveat is necessary here. It is that, while the core tenetsof democratic governance have universal validity, thedemocracy a nation chooses to develop depends on itshistory and circumstances.


2. The African Diversity: RegionalTrends

Africa with all its problems of poverty, debt, HIV-Aids,armed conflict etc, has managed against great odds tomove forward in many respects in the last few years.

Despite continuing imperfections in elections and chroniccorruption, there appears to be a strong popular demandfor more and better democracy.

The establishment of the African Union, and particularlythe NEPAD initiative, has focussed the minds of politicalelites on the business of responsible economic andpolitical governance and a new sense of collectiveresponsibility is developing.


The African Diversity: RegionalTrends

NEPAD has several unique features, but the mostimportant and relevant to progress towardsgood governance in Africa are:The recognition that economic/corporate, politicalgovernance, peace and security are necessarypreconditions for Africa’s development strategy.The pledge by African leaders to be accountable to oneanother and to their own people.The emphasis on Africa’s ownership of the developmentprocess.The establishment of African Peer Review Mechanism(APRM)The demonstration of the collective political will of Africanleaders and their commitment to mutual accountability.


The African Diversity: RegionalTrends

In the continent the pattern that is emerging isthat, an overwhelming number of countrieshave and are transforming their regime typesfrom the authoritarian variant to a morepluralistic type.

Constitutionally guaranteed provisions forperiodic elections and commitment to civil andpolitical liberties.

Effective transfer of power and renewal ofleadership.


The African Diversity:Regional Trends

In addition, transparent electoral processes anda more inclusive political system in whichminorities and previously disadvantaged groupshave gained access to elected and appointedoffices.

The more inclusive the political space becomes,the more the likelihood of sustaining the gainsmade in democratic governance.

The issue of deepening democracy remains aserious concern, given the socio-politicalchallenges facing the continent.


The Arab World Diversity:Regional Trends

The last few years have seen concerted efforts within theArab world to forge ahead with reform including political,constitutional, legislative, human rights, and womenparticipation.

More and more countries have sought to liberalize theirsocio-economic and political systems and create space forpolitical parties, media, parliaments, and non-state actorsto contribute to national dialogue on governance anddemocracy.

In this context, electoral processes, women’s participationand political parties have emerged as central issues inpolitical reform in the Arab world.


The Arab World Diversity: RegionalTrends

The emergence of a pan-Arab and trans-national satellitetelevision (e.g. Al Jazeera) and radio channels have givenunprecedented impetus to internal pressures and advocacy fordemocratic change.

Not all Arab governments have heeded these calls and thosewho seem sympathetic to such calls have opted for a gradualistapproach.

Elections in the region have taken place only intermittently dueto political instability and internal disputes and in manycountries elections are non-competitive and only limited toparliaments and municipal councils thus excluding theexecutive.


The Arab World Diversity: RegionalTrends

It was not until recently that Egypt – widely considered apace setter in the region – introduced constitutionalreform to allow multi-candidate presidential elections andthat Saudi Arabia introduced municipal elections for thefirst time, although excluding women from participating.

Countries like Lebanon and Palestine also recorded freeand competitive elections in the last few years.


The Arab World Diversity: Regional Trends

The Arab World stands out as a region where democraticprogress has been slower and more limited than in otherparts of the world.

Nevertheless, during recent years the gradual appearanceof encouraging and positive signs in the direction ofdemocratisation and political liberalisation can beobserved in a number of Arab countries.


The Major Challenges to Democratic Governancein the Region

Democracy and good governance encompasses a range ofactions aimed at creating more open, participatory societies, andpromoting greater accountability and transparency in publicaffairs.In addition, there should be a strong adherence to the rule oflaw in a manner that protects personal and civil liberties andgender equity.Also democracy and good governance cannot be sustained in anenvironment that is characterised by exclusive politics.The opening up of the political space, including the introductionof multiparty politics and allowing a free press to operate, hasraised the level of political accountability, as well as politicalcompetition.


The Major Challenges to Democratic Governancein the Region

The Weak democratic traditions and culture, largely due tothe protracted democratic process and absence of checksand balances:

The lack of effective checks and balances between the 3branches of government.

Domination of the Executive.

Parliament may lack the required autonomy and financialindependence from the Executive.

Lack of credibility of the judicial system.


The Major Challenges to DemocraticGovernance in the Region

The weak institutions created through political rather thannormative processes impact negatively on national andlocal governance, as well as on participation and thedelivery of services:

The civil service has tended to be supply rather than demanddriven, lacking of focus on outputs, outcomes and impact.growing urban poverty in many countries, coupled with risingdemand for services in urban slums, represents a new challengein service delivery.Too many tiers of decentralized government and too manydistricts, provinces, and regions were created.Finding ways to accommodate traditional systems into modernstatehood.



The weak political parties, particularly with regard to partyinternal governance structures, finance, leadershiprecruitment and gender representation:

Political parties are playing an increasingly critical role in theconsolidation of democracy

Most of the political parties lack adequate internal democraticprocesses.

Transformation to democratic politics and Traditions for politicalparties, both ruling and opposition.



Difficulties in managing identity, ethnic andreligious related conflicts: a leadershipchallenge:

The issue of the indivisibility of identity, ethnicand religious related conflicts.

The leadership challenge in addressing thisissue is the most serious one.



The challenge of transforming the private sector to serve asan engine of growth and development:

Good governance of the business enterprise.

The private sector generally lacks access to human andfinancial resources, knowledge, markets and labour,impacting negatively on its effectiveness in promotinggrowth and employment.

Suffers from a lack of dependability and predictability inthe management of state affairs.

Serious gaps between policy intentions andpronouncements made by the government and actualimplementation.



The Gender Gap:

Political playing field is uneven and notconducive to women's participation.

Political, public, cultural and socialenvironments are often unfriendly or evenhostile to women.

Enhanced women participation needs to beaddressed, and there are instruments for that(e.g. Quota).


Conclusion

It is clear that, democratic governance is a process thathas no short cuts. There is a need for a long-termperspective on democracy.The democratic governance must be seen to have aninstrumentalist value and relevance to improving humandevelopment.While the core tenets of democratic governance haveuniversal validity, the democracy a nation chooses todevelop depends on its history and circumstances.Countries will necessarily be “differently democratic.Democracy that empowers people must be built- it cannotbe imported.


THE END

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Global and Regional Issues in Democracy Building ......1. Global Context on Issues of Democracy Building The enormous challenges involved in rebuilding functioning states from above

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