POL112H5 Lecture 5: POL112 Feb 1 Lecture 5
Document Summary
International assistance with the specific goal to foster and advance democratization. Nearly every western government gives some aid for democracy-building. Support for institutions and processes crucial to democratic contestation having a fair election and political party development (just because government has an election doesn"t mean they are free and fair) Strengthening and reform of key institutions checking power on executives parliaments, judiciaries, and local governments. Support for civil society public-interest ngo"s, independent media, labour unions, and civic-education initiatives. Assumping that post-authoritarian dynamics will sweep aside all resistance to democratic change. Aid organizations operating more for the interests of aid providers than recipients. Obsessing over risk reduction and central control, choking off innovation and flexibility. Loss of democratic momentum: democracy"s failure to keep expanding has sapped energy, failures of large democratic investments in afghanistan and iraq. Closing of doors to democracy aid: dozens of governments block, limit, and stifle democracy aid hybrid countries democratic but have autocratic tendencies.
