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Proposal
for a Democracy Transition Center
by the Council for a Community of Democracies
While the number of democracies in the world has expanded
dramatically in the last two decades, many of the existing
democracies have not fully developed the institutions that
constitute the essential underpinning of democracy, such as:
a free and open electoral process; an independent judiciary;
freedom of speech, assembly and religion; equal rights for
women; and, the rule of law. In all too many cases, democratic
institutions in fledgling democracies are in danger of being
rolled back.
Moreover,
the populations of something over 40 countries remain under
repressive regimes. Although there are capable democracy advocates
in virtually all of these countries, the institutions of governance
are generally so closed, civil society is so weak, and the
governing authorities so repressive that these courageous
democracy activists are isolated and cut off from the world’s
democracies.
Creating
a dialogue with the leaders of each of these repressive governments
designed to encourage a peaceful transition, and establishing
a roundtable with democracy activists, would be important.
A goal would be to enable each country to take the steps that
would qualify it for participation in the worldwide Community
of Democracies.
The cause
of aiding and assisting the development of democracy where
help is needed would be well served if the world’s major
democracies were to establish a Democracy Transition Center,
supported by a Global Democracy Fund.
The proposal
to establish a Democracy Transition Center is based on the
premise, borne out by the flow of history, that democratic
governance is beneficial, first of all, for a country’s
own population and, second, that democracies make safer, more
stable and reliable neighbors. The consolidation of democratic
governance thus contributes to establishing a safer, more
peaceful world, as democracies rarely initiate war with one
another. Moreover, over time, democratic governance and a
market economy have proven more capable of creating the basis
for sustainable economic development and an economy that benefits
all citizens.
Setting
Up the Center and Fund
It would
be most appropriate to locate the center and fund in the capital
of a country that has recently made a successful transition
from authoritarian rule to democracy. The nations of Central
Europe, for example, are proud of their rapid and successful
transitions and have expressed a desire to help with building
and strengthening democratic institutions outside their borders.
The Center
and the supporting Fund could be established under the broad
umbrella of the Community of Democracies, with support, funding
and participation from interested democratic governments on
a global basis. The European Union and its member states could
play a leading role in establishing and running the center
and fund. Support and funding would likewise be sought from
the United Nations. In developing democracy support programs,
the center and fund should work closely with the UNDP. The
center would have a board of prominent figures from around
the world, appointed by their governments, who have contributed
to the development of democracy.
The center
could be staffed, on a rotating basis, by democracy experts
on a tour of two-three years on loan from governments, including
both executive and legislative branches, as well as NGO experts
on loan from their organizations. There would also be a role
for trainees, both from governments (for example, entry level
diplomats) and NGOs.
The purpose
of the fund would be to finance the staffing and programs
of the center. The fund would provide the basis to pull together
and coordinate the democracy assistance programs of donor
countries so that donors’ efforts reinforce and supplement
each other. Staffing on a rotating basis could be provided
by governments, by administrative experts from NGOs and from
international financial institutions.
Programs
of the Center
In establishing
the center, the participating democracies would commit themselves
to come to the aid of countries where democracy is threatened
and to provide moral support and assistance to democratic
activists in closed societies. The programs developed by the
center would enable participating democracies to strengthen
democracy where it exists, to improve the capability of regional
and other interested democracies to respond promptly and effectively
when nations still in transition to democracy are threatened
with forcible rollback of their democratic gains, and to strengthen
the ability of the Community of Democracies to bring changes
to the internal power structure in authoritarian regimes.
The center’s programs would strengthen the ability of
democratic nations to make it known to populations living
under repressive regimes that they are not isolated and that
the people and governments of democracies care about them
and will assist them.
To help
to develop and to carry out its programs, the center, supported
by the fund and the NED/WMD network, would serve as a nerve
center in assisting governments and NGOs in the Community
of Democracies in holding regional, inter-regional and global
conferences focusing on the key issues involved in making
the transition from repressive regimes to democracy, in working
together to counter threats to existing democracies and in
better engaging democracy donor countries in this work.
The center
could also encourage established democracies to undertake
periodic reviews of the functioning of their own democratic
institutions, to discuss their performance with other democracies
and to pinpoint areas where they might benefit from the center’s
expertise and assistance.
To assist
in peaceful transition to democracy, the center, working with
the UNDP, could develop three to five year plans for countries
of concern, with the support wherever possible of governmental
and non-governmental experts from those countries. Markers
could be established for key points in the transition.
Progress
Hungary
has taken the lead on this proposal with U.S. support, and
contacts are being initiated with other European nations about
the Democracy Transition Center. CCD has received a grant
to help support a conference to develop a plan for the Center
to be presented to the Community of Democracies Ministerial
meeting in Santiago, May 2005.
For
More Information
For more
information, you can contact the Council for a Community of
Democracies at:
CCD
c/o DACOR Bacon House
1801 F Street NW, Suite 308
Washington, DC 20006
T: (202) 789-9771 | F: (202) 789-9764
info@ccd21.org | www.ccd21.org
May 9, 2004
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