EDUCATION FOR DEMOCRACY
For the success of democratic reforms, education and learning may be more important than infrastructure and capital investments.

In Seoul, the Community of Democracies Ministerial Conference as well as the NGO Forum recognized the importance of promoting a culture of democracy through education for democracy.

As a follow-up step, in New York, June 8-10, 2003 the Council for a Community of Democracies and the American Forum for Global Education organized an international conference, where a Global Strategic Plan for Democracy Education was developed.

Education for Democracy has "the aim to transform political culture and behavior of citizens and governments in ways supportive of democratic values and governance" .

Education for Democracy should use "interactive and practically oriented teaching methods and trainee-centered learning" ,so that the education processes result in:

Informed Citizens
With improved understanding and knowledge of democratic institutions, rule of law and human rights in order to:
(a) take informed decisions
(b) benefit from their rights
(c) respect their duties

Engaged Citizens With A Sense Of Shared Responsibility
With improved knowledge and skills in participatory problem solving/planning and
in managing differences and conflicts, in order to:
(a) participate effectively and responsibly to address the problems of their
society
(b) respect diversity
(c) prevent violence

Democratic Leaders
With improved knowledge and skills in principled and democratic leadership in order to
(a) base leadership on ethical values
(b) be capable to promote change in an effective and efficient way
(c) be open to share power when guiding cooperative actions.

REGIONAL MECHANISMS FOR COOPERATION
Regional cooperation can play a key role in promoting democratic governance. Countries with largely similar experiences in CEE have much to benefit from exchanging best practices and lessons learned from their recent past.

Networking has proven to be an efficient mechanism used by civil society to build people-to-people and organization-to-organization professional and human relations.

Networking breaks the isolation imposed on CEE countries for decades and opens their societies, creating opportunities to exchange ideas and expertise, to develop common understanding on basic concepts and to create a platform for mutual support and stability.

The following are key elements for a strong and sustainable Regional Network:

Many NGOs from CEE have extensive experience in promoting democracy through education and capacity building programs. Many of them also have experience in cooperating at regional level with like-minded organizations from other countries, promoting democratic processes, building sustainable networks that overcome borders and differences.

The Bucharest NGO Forum will offer opportunities for NGOs to share experiences and look for ways to further enhance regional cooperation in support of democracy and open societies.

GOOD GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION
The negative impact of corruption on development is no longer questioned. Genuine evidence from across the globe proves that corruption hinders economic development; directs investment and public expenditure away from needed social services and infrastructure that benefit the poor. It also fosters an anti-democratic environment characterized by uncertainty, unpredictability and declining moral values and disrespect for constitutional institutions and authority. Corruption therefore reflects a democracy, human rights and governance deficit that negatively impacts on poverty and human security. Often these consequences spill across borders and threaten international peace and stability.

Governance is not limited to government activities, it is a larger concept describing the way in which a country is governed, decisions concerning public affairs are made and implemented, with the contribution of and collaboration among, the public sector (government), private sector (business), and third sector (civil society)

Corruption is defined as "the misuse of public power, office or authority for private benefit - through bribery, extortion, influence peddling, nepotism, fraud, speed money or embezzlement" . It has a negative impact on numerous aspects of social and economic life, e.g. it reduces economic growth, decreases and diverts government revenues, misallocates scarce resources, renders government regulations ineffective, breeds impunity and dilutes public integrity, and violates human rights.

Corruption is one of the biggest dangers for the consolidation of democracy in our region, especially because during the economic and political transition from authoritarian rule to democracy corruption is likely to increase and spread. Many people blame corruption for the fact that neither freer markets nor democratic reforms have yet lived up to their expectations.

There are different varieties of corruption, which harm democracy to various extents. Corruption that undercuts the rules of the democratic game, for example corruption in political parties, justice system, banking and credit systems, can damage democratization through hindering economic and political development. Corruption that lets polluters damage rivers and constructions fall apart at the first earthquake killing people, can be devastating.

Most dangerous is that corruption eats away popular trust in democratic institutions, the legitimacy and credibility of governments. And when democratic institutions lose credibility, a climate of instability, unrest and general lawlessness may emerge, which is just few steps away from returning to an extremist, authoritarian regime, through nominally free elections.

However, in the long run, a stable and well functioning democracy can generate more powerful antidotes against corruption and its negative consequences than regimes in which political liberties are suppressed.

An important way to strengthen democracy is to promote good governance, to fix the systems that breed corruption. Most people tend to think that corruption can best be fought through new laws, more controls, a change in mentality, or an ethical revolution. Laws and controls, however, prove insufficient when democratic institutions are not strong enough to enforce them. Robert Klitgaard from the Institute for Contemporary Studies, Oakland, California, proposed a metaphorical formula for Corruption that can help identify the characteristics of good governance that can effectively reduce corruption:
C (Corruption)=M(Monopoly)+D(Discretion)-A(Accountability)

Other experts have tinkered with this equation and suggested additional other dimensions, such as integrity and ethics. An alternative formulation suggested by Richard Holloway in the UNDP Source Book on Accountability, Transparency and Integrity follows:
Corruption=(Monopoly + Discretion)-(Accountability+Integrity+Transparency)
This formula recognizes that Accountability, Integrity and Transparency are all important factors to balance against Monopoly and Discretion.

Corruption is also a matter of economic calculation. If the probability of being caught is small, the penalty is mild and rewards are great, people are encouraged to engage in corruption.

A strategy to prevent and fight corruption, therefore, should look for ways to reduce monopoly power, limit and clarify discretion and increase accountability and transparency. It should also take into account the increase of penalties and probabilities of being caught, as well as ways of linking pay and promotion to performance.

The above prompt to the need to promote the following good governance characteristics:

To promote good governance and fight corruption, a powerful political will is needed, a clear short, medium and long term strategy as well as the contribution of all sectors of the society: public, private and civil society. We are all in this together, and together we must find a way out.

Many NGOs from the CEE region have gained valuable experience in promoting good governance and fighting corruption for democracy consolidation. The Bucharest Forum will encourage them to explore ways for cooperation to increase the impact of their efforts.