The language of a captive community acquires certain durable habits; whole zones of reality cease to exist simply because they have no name
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The language of a captive community acquires certain durable habits; whole zones of reality cease to exist simply because they have no name
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![]() Democracy on the ground: apathy, community and civil societyThe story of a civil-society project in Macedonia suggests that United States democracy-promotion in the post-communist world too often lacks both local knowledge and historical awareness, says Keith Brown. Democracy and elections: a moving targetA vital task of democracy-building is understanding the links between national elections and the wider dynamics of democratic change, says Andrew Ellis.
Islam, America, democracyThe effort to forge a new relationship between the west and Islam and to nurture democracy in the middle east requires that the United States in particular reframe its view of the Islamic world, says Tarek Osman. Democracy and aid: the missing linksThe political arguments over aid policies and strategies in Africa are intensifying. But where does democracy fit in: what are the pros and cons of aid in relation to democratic consolidation in the continent? Anna Lekvall takes the pulse of current thinking in a key area of debate among donors, scholars, activists and policy-makers. Capitalism and democracyThe dominance of a world capitalist order with "liberal-proceduralist democracy" as its political shell is the necessary framework for understanding the character of "democracy-support" and associated projects, says Achin Vanaik. Africa: constitution-building vs coup-makingThe experience of creating new constitutions in Africa promises a transformation in the continent's landscape of governance that will render coups obsolete, says Winluck Wahiu & Paulos Tesfagiorgis.
A marriage for democracyThe European Union has walked backwards into its Eastern Partnership. The events in Moldova show what the project needs to be about, says Krzysztof Bobinski. Moldova: time to chooseThe decision to hold a recount in Moldova's disputed election offers the European Union an opportunity to rediscover its democratic agency, says Vessela Tcherneva. The gender of democracy mattersA democracy worth the name must have women's equality with men at its heart. Thus gender equality must be an explicit goal for democracy-building processes and institutions, says Rumbidzai Kandawasvika-Nhundu. Democracy's time, Islamists' moveThe readiness of Islamist movements in the middle east to engage with democratic ideas is evidence that the region is ready for substantive democratic change. The United States should renew its efforts in this direction in deed as well as word, says Shadi Hamid. Democracy-support in a new eraThese are testing times for many old certainties. Democracy too is under pressure from rival models and global insecurity. But this is an opportunity for a creative rethink of democracy, argue Christopher Hobson & Milja Kurki - one that could also produce fresh understandings and methods of democracy-support. Democracy and the Arabs: after the fallAn appeal to Barack Obama to reinvigorate the United States's democracy-promotion efforts in the Arab world is based on flawed understanding both of political Islam and the real needs of the region's people, says Tarek Osman. The inspectors of democracyA number of reports on the state of democracy and freedom around the world promote the notion of a "democratic recession" in the 2000s. Their own methods and conclusions deserve scrutiny, says Rodrigo de Almeida. Dear Mr President...don't forget democracyAn international group of over 140 scholars, experts and journalists urges the new American president to put democratic reform and respect for human rights at the heart of his engagement with Arab and Muslim regimes and publics. Democracy and the Muslim worldAn old argument over the compatibility of Islam and democracy is being transformed under the influence of new social and intellectual currents. The external advocates of democracy in the Muslim world should take note, says Asef Bayat. Democracy for export?Can democracy be introduced from outside, and what conditions make the effort legitimate? Answers to these crucial questions can be found by considering the global experience of democratisation in the post-1945 decades - and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq - in light of the cosmopolitan project, says Daniele Archibugi. The European Union and democracy-buildingThe story of Europe and democracy-building is marked by the search for a timely fusion of policy, agency, unity and opportunity. A new project aims to help create it, explain Ingrid Wetterqvist, Raul Cordenillo, Halfdan L Ottosen, Susanne Lindahl, and Therese Arnewing. No hay mujeres: Latin America's long marchThere has been real progress in guaranteeing the fuller participation of women in Latin American political life. The lessons of the past generation are a vital resource in ensuring that the process continues in the next, says Kristen Sample. Taking stock of democracyA new model of assessing the quality of democracy around the world is distinguished by a combination of universal standards, local ownership, flexibility of use and technical creativity. Two of its architects, Monika Ericson & Mélida Jiménez of International IDEA, introduce the State of Democracy Network Website. Democracy: history not destinyAfter Iraq and Afghanistan, amid China's rise and Russia's challenge, can western democracy any longer offer a universal model? Rein Müllerson offers a qualified, contingent and contextual answer (This article was first published on 25 November 2008) Democracy support: where now?The extension of democracy has been central to the experience of much of the world in the last three decades. But the mixed record and complex challenges of democracy support in the 2000s makes this a propitious moment for a debate on the topic, says Vidar Helgesen of International IDEA. |
Democracy support resources
* Institutes, * Blogs * Books
* Institutes,
Center
Centre
Center
Centre for Studies in
European
European Commission - promoting European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights
European
International
National
Netherlands Taiwan Foundation for Democracy Westminster Foundation for Democracy Larry Diamond - "The Democratic Rollback" (Foreign Affairs, March-April 2008)
Timothy Garton Ash, "We need a benign European hydra
United States Institute of Peace, Rethinking
Thomas Carothers, Critical
Karen von Hippel, Democracy
Robert Kagan, The Paul Ginsborg, Democracy (Profile, 2008) James Traub, The Freedom Agenda (Farrar, Strauss, Giroux, 2008)
Tamara Wittes, Freedom's What next?The Convention on Modern Liberty, in London and across the UK attracted more than 1000 people. Find out what happened and what comes next... Crash
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