Constitution-building refers to processes for negotiating, drafting and implementing constitutions.
Many constitutions are framed following conflict. Increased intervention of the international community in the resolution of civil and intra-state conflicts has led in many cases to external actors extending their roles into constitution building. External intervention in constitution building presents challenges and pressures on these exercises of sovereignty.
The nature of democracy building support has changed radically in the last 10 years. At the same time, the third wave of democratization has led to an explosion of experience, knowledge, successes and failures across the Global South.
Worldwide, women represent 50 per cent of the population. However, in the political sphere, the presence of women political leaders, party leaders, candidates and elected representatives is not proportional to this percentage.
Can presidential structures provide stability and efficient administration? There is increasing evidence—in particular as a result of the third wave of democratization—that presidential systems are as resistant to political crises or economic impacts as parliamentary systems.
This Discussion Paper addresses an urgent topic: the use of illicit political finance in a systematic manner to influence or ‘capture’ agencies, local governments, territory or even the entirety of states.
This report presents the first ever peer review of the European Union’s external policies and practices on support for democracy and democracy building around the world.
In 2008–09 International IDEA engaged counterparts and partners of the European Union in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Arab world, South Asia and Southeast Asia in a series of multi-regional consultations to obtain feedback on the impact of the EU’s policies on democracy and democracy building in their respective regions.
Democracy and development are deeply intertwined in spite of the difficulty of identifying a direct, causal and quantifiable relationship between them. More importantly, they are increasingly understood today as including each other to a great extent and building upon each other.
While many books on direct democracy have a regional or national approach, or simply focus on one of the many mechanisms associated with direct democracy, this Handbook delves into a global comparison of direct democracy mechanisms, including referendums, citizens’ initiatives, agenda initiatives and recall.
Well-functioning political parties are essential components of democracy. They organize voters, aggregate and articulate interests, craft policy alternatives, recruit and socialize new candidates for office, set policy-making agendas, integrate disparate groups and individuals into the democratic process, and provide the basis for coordinated electoral and legislative activity.
‘Challenges to Democracy Building: A Seminar to Inspire a New Swedish Policy” was held in Stockholm, Sweden in May 2007.
It was organized by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, through the Swedish Ambassador for Democracy, Maria Leissner, in cooperation with International IDEA.
Party assistance has been part of international cooperation since the 1950s. Since then it has expanded steadily, both in terms of funding and the number of actors involved. Nonetheless, party assistance lacks coherent standards and principles for determining what projects should achieve, how appropriate activities can be identified, and how their impact can be measured.
The constitutions of many countries guarantee the right to vote for all citizens.
However, in reality, voters who are outside their home country when elections take place are often disenfranchised because of a lack of procedures enabling them to exercise that right.
Democracy is asked to do more than just provide representation: in many instances it is expected to be the vehicle for ensuring that social needs are met and human security is guaranteed.
The debate on appropriate methodologies for evaluating democracy support has gained momentum in the last two decades, in tandem with significant increases in democracy assistance.
Democratic dialogue strengthens democratic institutions by providing citizens with the opportunity to voice their concerns, needs and interests—especially people who are normally disempowered from expressing themselves.
Today, the average proportion of women members of parliaments stands at a mere 17.2 per cent. Only 19 countries in the world have achieved the goal of 30+ per cent women’s representation in national legislatures, a goal adopted by the Beijing Process in 1995.
For many across the world, democracy is in a crisis of legitimacy and credibility.
The idea that people have the right to control their government and that a government is legitimate only if and when it is controlled by the people has won almost global recognition.
Building trust and professionalism in the management of electoral processes remains a major challenge for electoral management bodies (EMBs), institutions and/or bodies responsible for managing elections.
The ‘credibility gap’—the diminished public confidence in the integrity and diligence for many electoral institutions and their activities—is a common problem for EMBs around the world.
The past several decades have witnessed a general decline in voter turnout throughout the world, and, while there is little agreement as to what specifically constitutes a good level of turnout, recent declines in many countries have raised concern among governments, non-governmental organizations, and citizens.
