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Survey
Public Opinion Survey on Arab Democracy
Survey of Arab Democratic Institutions
May 07, 2007
Publication
Report/Paper
Comparative Report on the State of the Parliament in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco
This comparative report on the state of the parliament is based on the country reports covering the parliaments of four countries—Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco—and is the first report of its kind in the Arab region. ACRLI, with technical support from IFES and the Canadian Parliamentary Centre, prepared these reports over a two-year period. It employed a multidisciplinary methodology based on international best practices and norms for parliaments, and drew up academic resources; applied research; surveys of parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and the public; and discussions at country and regional roundtables. It is part of a series of reports focused on the overall state of three key mutually supportive institutions in the Arab region: the judiciary, the media and the parliament.
April 30, 2007
Publication
Report/Paper
IFES-Lebanon Election Mapping Mission: Interim Report
From early April 2005 to late May 2005 IFES conducted the first phase of an electoral mapping mission in Lebanon to enable the development of an effective follow-on electoral assistance strategy in a political environment where none had previously been provided...
September 29, 2005
Publication
Report/Paper
Lithuania: Money and Politics Case Study
Lithuania has rapidly developed both politically and economically since emerging from the Soviet Union in 1991. While the country has built a functioning parliamentary system of government, has become a member of NATO, and is on the verge of joining the European Union, it still faces many problems associated with the many consolidating democracies around the world. As in all democracies, populations need to trust that those they elect will represent their interests. Problems such as corruption, weaknesses in laws concerning the political financing, and unaccounted for political income and expenditures threaten the credibility of the process and hinder the speed at which democracy is consolidated. Additionally, Lithuania lacks the high level of vibrant debate about the issue of political financing among scholars, journalists and civil society bodies required to promote meaningful reform. Recognizing this, Lithuania has developed an independent Central Electoral Committee (CEC) and adopted laws requiring detailed and public disclosure of political finance accounts. Prior to conducting Money and Politics programming in Lithuania, the CEC had made a demonstrable interest in making information public. While scanning summary report of accounts and placing them on the internet, the user could not search, not easily compare and analyze the information. Interested parties were required to make an appointment to view more detailed, paper-based information. Further, while the Tax Authorities are required to audit final political party reports, enforcement is widely considered to be weak. Few, if any, cases of political finance violations have been forwarded and investigated, not to mention prosecuted. By addressing the difficult issues surrounding political finance with the support of IFES in 2002 and 2003, Lithuania is emerging as a model for other consolidating democracy to follow. Significant areas remain to be addressed. While Lithuania has taken concrete steps to reform political finance legislation, open political finance information to public scrutiny and oversight, and encourage debate, further efforts are required to actively enforce laws and regulations and raise the level of debate among the various governmental, legislative, and civil society groups. By addressing these areas, Lithuania has the potential for being an example of best practices while making local expertise and resources to other countries undergoing similar reforms.
December 31, 2002
Publication
Report/Paper
Manual de Planificacion para Elecciones Transitorias, Republica de Cuba
This report is a compendium of ideas and practices that might be useful for future Cuban officials and non-governmental leaders who are beginning a transition to democracy, or who are contemplating seeking reform of the current regime. The document discusses the minimum international norms and standards for free and fair elections, as well as the legal, constitutional and administrative options that are available to transition authorities.
It
also offers ideas, based on examples from countries around the world, about what will be needed to establish and support an honest, efficient and transparent system of election administration, and what role the international community might be invited to play in that process.
June 29, 1999
Publication
Report/Paper
Transitional Election Planning Manual (Executive Summary), Republic of Cuba
This report is a compendium of ideas and practices that might be useful for future Cuban
officials and non-governmental leaders who are beginning a transition to democracy, or who
are contemplating seeking reform of the current regime. The document discusses the minimum international norms and standards for free and fair elections, as well as the legal, constitutional and administrative options that are available to transition authorities.
It
also offers ideas, based on examples from countries around the
world, about what will be needed to establish and support an honest, efficient and transparent system of election administration, and what role the international community might be invited to play in that process.
June 29, 1999
Publication
Report/Paper
Transitional Election Planning Manual Republic of Cuba
This report is a compendium of ideas and practices that might be useful for future Cuban
officials and non-governmental leaders who are beginning a transition to democracy, or who
are contemplating seeking reform of the current regime. The document discusses the minimum international norms and standards for free and fair elections, as well as the legal, constitutional and administrative options that are available to transition authorities.
It
also offers ideas, based on examples from countries around the
world, about what will be needed to establish and support an honest, efficient and transparent system of election administration, and what role the international community might be invited to play in that process.
June 29, 1999
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Democracy and You
Published by the Namibia Institute for Democracy (NID) in 1999, the book entitled Democracy and You: A Guide to Better Understanding provides Namibians with general information and definitions regarding democratic governance and the structure of Namibian politics. In addition to outlines of the Namibian constitution and government, this book includes a civic education essay competition and repeatedly stresses the importance of democracy.