Participants from across the globe participated in discussions and shared experiences during a two-day conference on the topic of Money in Politics and its Effects on People’s Representation.
After detailed in-depth discussions on different aspects of the problems, the conference unanimously endorsed the New Delhi Declaration on Political Finance Regulation.
Money and politics are inextricably linked.
The functioning of contemporary democracies necessitates political financing, and sometimes the combination of private and public funding sources. However, there is a strong need to control unfair and illegal practices and to regulate political finance in the light of the role that political parties play in the democratic process.
For elections to meet international standards, inclusion of underrepresented groups should be ensured, affirmed participants at a workshop on “Marginalized Groups in Electoral Processes” organized by International IDEA in Stockholm, on 22-23 November 2016.
On 25 November 2016, International IDEA’s Secretary General Yves Leterme travelled to Bucharest, Romania, to participate in the Central and Eastern European Civil Society Forum.
The impact of economic resources on the political participation of women has become a prominent issue in the field of comparative political finance.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition that politics dominated by money is, more often than not, politics dominated by men. It is not surprising that the issue has moved to the forefront of debates on gender and political finance.
On 14 and 15 November, the Africa and West Asia Programme of International IDEA (AWA IDEA) organized (in partnership with the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)) a technical training and capacity development workshop on inter-party dialogue. The focus of the workshop was on natural resources governance and socioeconomic transformation in Central African countries.
Elections are complex undertakings. Regardless of where they take place, election management bodies (EMBs) face numerous risks in organizing them.
These risks are linked to the legal, operational, technical, political and security aspects of electoral processes. When risks become certainties, the consequences can be serious in both well-established and transitional democracies.
Democratic accountability in service delivery
On 22 and 23 November, International IDEA’s Secretary General, travelled to Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina to attend the IX High Level Meeting on “The European Peace: What is Recipe for a Strong Union for All?” organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.
International financial institutions (IFIs) are active in many developing countries, influencing the economy through their different operations and, in some cases, exerting significant influence on public sector reform and national economic policies.
International IDEA’s Secretary-General travelled to the Netherlands on 17 and 18 November 2016, as part of International IDEA’s efforts to intensify its outreach to its member states.
On 15 November 2016, International IDEA welcomed Hon. Donatille Mukabalisa, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Rwanda, with a delegation of Members of the Chamber of Deputies, to the International IDEA Headquarters in Stockholm.
The Office of International IDEA to the European Union facilitated a discussion on how the Inter-Generational Dialogue can boost people’s faith in democracy by exploring ways to bring members of different age groups into the political process, and to find mechanisms for cooperation within democratic governance processes.
International IDEA, together with the Community of Democracies (CoD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) held on 10 November the European Consultation on Gender Equality and Political Empowerment of Women.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are those of the staff member and do not represent the institutional position of International IDEA.
Following the passage of hurricane Matthew that hit Haiti the 4 and 5 October 2016, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) would like to express its condolences and its sympathies with the Haitian people. It also welcomes the huge solidarity of the men and women of this country to help the victims of this natural disaster.
International IDEA is hosting the 6th High Level Meeting of the Inter-Regional Dialogue on Democracy (IRDD), to discuss the theme of Gender Equality and Political Empowerment of Women. This year the High Level Meeting will take place on 8 November 2016, at the Headquarters of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France.
Bhutan is halfway through its second five-year electoral cycle and unsurprisingly everyone we talked to during the recent high-level visit felt its transition to democracy is not over yet. From women’s representation and participation to quantity of civic education and from devolution of powers to more effective national parliament, Bhutan is still
International IDEA’s Annual Review of Constitution-Building Processes provides a retrospective account of constitutional transitions around the world, the issues that drive them, and their implications for national and international politics.
In situations of violent conflict, negotiated agreements—including ceasefire or peace agreements and documents detailing constitutional arrangements—attempt to reach a new political settlement between the warring protagonists, which is ideally supported by the broader society.
Such political settlements aim to move the country or region from conflict to a situation characterized by constitutional commitments to good governance and the rule of law.
