DemocracyDigestJly16004

Democracy assistance should be “core business” of EU foreign policy:
Hague Conference

"The practice of democracy and the struggle against authoritarianism belong to the core of what is often considered to be a somewhat elusive European identity,” declared a major democracy assistance conference held in The Hague, Netherlands, on July 5-6. Participants affirmed democracy as a precondition for international stability and conflict-prevention but concluded that current forms of democracy assistance are too often used to maintain the status quo rather than create space for democratic change.

The conference, hosted by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (IMD), called for political parties to adopt a more prominent role in European democracy promotion and called for a "qualitative overhaul" of the European Union's "fragmented, inconsistent and ad hoc approaches" to democracy assistance. Conference arrangements were managed by a steering committee comprising representatives of Germany's Freidrich Ebert Stiftung, the British Westminster Foundation for Democracy, France's Fondation Jean Jaures, and the Centre Party International Foundation.

The delegates drafted a statement with some 16 reccomendations on how the European Council and other European institutions could strengthen their role in democracy assistance, beginning with a full-scale review of the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright addressed the group, lamenting the slow pace of change in the Arab world and raising worries about the substitution of “reform” or “modernization” for genuine democracy. She cautioned against “endless dialogue” and warned that “democracy is in trouble” after the heady optimism that followed the collapse of the Berlin Wall. In today's volatile world, progress is urgent: "Gradual is fine, glacial is not,” Secretary Albright warned. The importance of decentralized local ownership of change and of the social dimension to empowerment were stressed by Jordanian Princess Basma Bint Talal, who also insisted on the need to engage interests “other than those we feel comfortable with”, including Islamic traditionalists. Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, managing director of the World Bank, outlined research confirming that better governance, including enhanced voice, accountability and participation, generates more positive development outcomes.

Securing the rule of law should take precedence over cultivating democratic institutions, said Ralf Dahrendorf of the British House of Lords. He also argued that Europe should focus its efforts on its “near abroad,” including the Balkans and Turkey, while noting that the EU's credibility is hampered by a “democratic deficit” within its own institutions. European parliamentarian Edward MacMillan Scott also cautioned that the EU's international resources are spread too thinly, not only geographically but also across 32 other activities with only tenuous links to democracy assistance. In contrast to Dahrendorf, Scott proposed that democracy initiatives focus on Europe's unstable periphery in North Africa and the Middle East.

Europeans need to “capture what is distinctively European for its own sake and not as a counterpart to the US,” said David French, head of the UK -based Westminster Foundation. The conference recommended “additional regular dialogue” with North American partner organizations “with the objective of sharing lessons learned and aligning policies and approaches.”

The final statement, presented as a declaration to Atzo Nicolaï, Dutch Minister for European Affairs, rejected the choice between engagement with Europe's Eastern neighbors and those that lie across the Mediterranean, and addressed the need to work in both.

A useful set of background documents was produced to inform conference deliberations, including papers on "The role of democracy assistance in future EU external relations" by Karen Smith, "Is there a distinct European democratic model to promote?" by André W.M. Gerrits and "Democracy as product v democracy as process" by Richard Youngs.

“The EU Should Engage With The Community of Democracies”
A number of European democracy assistance agencies also joined with US observers in a side session at The Hague conference to consider European engagement with the Community of Democracies. It was broadly agreed that from its initial meeting in Warsaw in 2000 the effort to establish such a Community faced some European animosity, particularly from France. But although this hostility has diminished, it has given way to skepticism, and most EU governments are still stand-offish.

The side session nevertheless endorsed a statement recommending greater European engagement in the Community as conducive to enhancing Europe's democracy credentials and as entirely consistent with European policies and values. Organizers of the conference incorporated this statement into the documents made available to the public.

Portuguese Institute Hosts Debate on Europe, Transatlantic Ties
and Democracy
Scholars, policy experts, and government officials from Europe and the Americas met in the old Portuguese seaport of Cascais on July 7-10 for wide-ranging debate on "The Idea of Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship." This was the twelfth in a series of annual meetings sponsored by the Institute of Political Studies of the Portuguese Catholic University. Joao Carlos Espada, the Institute's Director, offered a challenge to the often-stated the proposition that the European nation state bears responsibility for the war that ravaged the continent in the mid-Twentieth Century. He suggested instead that totalitarian movements that have sought to supplant the nation state bear a greater responsibility. He also cautioned that citizens' rights and democracy will be best assured in a united Europe where national parliaments remain strong, and where close transatlantic relations are maintained.

Radek Sikorski, a former Polish Deputy Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs and now Executive Director of the New Atlantic Initiative, urged Europeans to cooperate with the US in advancing democracy, and to strengthen their own defense capabilities -- but cautioned Washington against too arrogant and self-centered a posture. Conference papers by these and other eminent authors -- Anthony O'Hear for London's Royal Institute of Philosophy, John O'Sullivan of The National Interest quarterly , Spain's Florentino Portero, Piotr Naimsky from Poland, Brazil's Jose de Meira Penna, William Kristol, Marc Plattner, Craig Kennedy and James Ceaser from the US, and many others --- will be available soon at the Institute's web site: www.ucp.pt/iep

Modernization, Not Democratization, Dominates Mideast Reform Agenda
Despite the emerging consensus in the Arab world on the need for reform, there is no consensus on its purpose and meaning for political change, says Amy Hawthorne, Associate at the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and editor of Carnegie's Arab Reform Bulletin.

Addressing a July 12 Capitol Hill meeting on the question of "Arab Reform: Movement from Within?" organized by the Middle East Institute, Hawthorne outlined three broad perspectives that currently animate discussions on reform within the region. The liberal democratic perspective seeks full democracy in Arab states, and calls for free and fair elections, term limits for Arab rulers, and an end to emergency security laws and controls on civil society. Largely associated with a minority of secular, Westernized professionals and intellectuals, this perspective is represented by the Alexandria Declaration of March 2004. The moderate Islamist perspective endorses some liberal reforms but has the ultimate objective of a state based on 'authentic' Islam, in accordance with Shari'ah. This view, which also sees reform as a way to rid the region of Western political and cultural influence, is typified by the reform program of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Most Arab regimes espouse yet a third perspective which can be described as modernization, in which gradual reforms are intended to create efficiently-governed and economically-successful states, but not democracies. Modernizing reforms include expanding political participation among women and youth, improving judicial and electoral administration, and lifting some limits on media freedom - all without touching the core structure of the state. The Tunis Declaration issued at the recent Arab League summit encapsulates this approach. So far, Hawthorne argues, Arab governments are largely pursuing reform initiatives that fall into this third category.

The modernizing perspective was exemplified by her fellow panel members. Idriss Jazairy, Algeria's Ambassador to the US, outlined a case for good governance, a strong state and a larger middle class in order to avoid a "Russian scenario" in which change disproportionately benefits corrupt oligarchs. Dr Abdel Monem Said Aly of the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies invoked the French political theorist Montesquieu to argue that Egypt's citizens, while denied full democratic rights, are nevertheless able to influence legislation and decision-making through the media, the judiciary and various pressure groups. Good governance, education reform and participation were highlighted as critical reform ingredients by Khaled al-Maeena, Saudi editor-in-chief of Arab News. In his view, the absence of an independent civil society is a critical problem in Saudi Arabia, and contributes to popular expectations of top-down measures for change.

The liberal democratic perspective is likely to remain the weakest for the foreseeable future, says Hawthorne, due to the political weakness of its proponents, the strength of the security apparatus in Arab states, and the fact that the US and Europe tend, in practice if not in rhetoric, to support the modernization approach. Nevertheless, three long-term "macro factors" could push reform in the direction of more genuinely democratic change. The expansion of open and independent media and communications networks could facilitate a popular shift toward democratic norms; sustained and credible US and EU engagement in promoting democracy could have a modest but positive impact; and a degree of success in Iraq and resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could transform what are now poles of negativity into positive factors within the region.

Journalists' Lament Chirac Government's Indifference to
Chinese Internet Crackdown
Reporters Sans Frontiers (Reporters Without Borders) has expressed regret that France failed to use the occasion of its “Year of China in France” initiative to protest the Beijing government's suppression of journalists and Internet-users.

From October 2003 to July 2004, the duration of the French festival, two senior members of China's reformist press received heavy jail sentences, while a celebrated editor-in-chief was arrested for his reports on SARS and torture. Ten Chinese Internet-users and cyber-dissidents were arrested and 20 others were sentenced to prison terms, some for to 14 years. Some 13 Internet-users and cyber-dissidents were sentenced during the months of October and November 2003 alone, months which coincided with the opening of the festivities. Chinese “cyberpolice” also tightened restrictions on Internet discussion forums, strengthened surveillance of e-mails and, in a recent innovation, installed a new text messaging control system.

The international press freedom organisation also lamented the fact that French authorities capitulated to Beijing government demands over a list of invited Chinese artists and performers. Leading Chinese writers and Chinese organisations in France were excluded to satisfy Beijing. The French government also gave way to pressure from Beijing to censor the Chinese-language television channel NTDTV that is carried on the Eutelsat satellite. (The privately-owned channel is close to the Falun Gong spiritual movement.)

Reporters Without Borders expressed the hope that strengthened Sino-French ties will now lead to the release of 27 journalists and 61 cyber-dissidents currently in jail in China, and will help to end government censorship. The organisation highlighted the case of website creator Huang Qi, laureate of the 2004 Cyberfreedom Prize, who has been imprisoned in Sichuan for four years.

Can democracy be exported?
The recent issue of Politeia, the newsletter of the Network for Citizenship and Democracy in Europe, carries an interesting discussion on the "export" of democracy. Professor Sadik Jalal al-Azm, who often debates Islamists on the Al-Jazeera network, believes Turkey demonstrates that democracy best arises within the Arab world itself. But for European democracy promotion expert André Gerrits “a country that succeeds in democratising completely by itself is truly extraordinary.” Two-thirds of the world's democracies were related to some kind of intervention by other nations, says Gerrits, chair of the Dutch Labour Party's Alfred Mozer Foundation.

"There is a fundamental difference between the European and the Arab countries," explains Al-Azm. "In Europe modernity came from within. In the Arab world it is inextricably bound to influences from abroad, with colonisation and foreign interventions," he says. "As a consequence the reaction is more complicated, and more violent." Gerrits unabashedly observes that “political and cultural relativism that has characterised development aid for a long time is altogether foreign to democracy advancement," and that “imposing political institutions on other countries is at least as old as the modern state system." This issue of Politeia also carries the news that the Dutch education minister, Ms. Van der Hoeven, intends to give education for democratic citizenship greater attention during the current Dutch presidency of the European Union.

US Cuts $18 Million In Uzbekistan Aid, Citing Rights Record
The United States has admonished Uzbekistan, a key ally in the war on terrorism, over its human rights record, withdrawing $18 million in military and economic aid. While acknowledging some progress on human rights, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the US was "disappointed by lack of progress on democratic reform and restrictions put on US assistance partners on the ground."

The 2002 Strategic Partnership Framework between the two countries requires that the former Soviet republic show improvements in respecting human rights, establishing a multiparty system and allowing free expression before it can receive some aid. The Secretary of State has to certify that the Uzbek authorities are making “substantial and continuing progress” in meeting human rights commitments made under the joint Declaration signed during Uzbek President Islam Karimov's visit to Washington in March 2002.

Under the declaration the Uzbek government pledged to build a strong and open civil society, ensure respect for human rights and liberties, and establish a multiparty system. It also promised free and fair elections, political pluralism, respect for diversity of opinions and the freedom to express them, and guaranteed the independence of the media and the courts.

Yet the regime has failed to register a single independent domestic human rights group since the last certification decision in May 2003. Uzbek authorities cracked down on foreign NGOs last year, accusing them of supporting banned political groups, and closing the Open Society Institute's office in the capital, Tashkent. New restrictions ban NGOs from working with political parties, prohibiting them from monitoring to ensure free and fair elections. An amendment to the law on NGOs bans foreign NGOs and their staff from political activity, including the formation of new parties. A new amendment to the law on political parties prohibits foreign governments and NGOs from working with registered political parties.

Human rights advocates calculate that Uzbekistan has more than 6,000 political prisoners and report that the Karimov government launched a fresh crackdown on political dissent after suicide bombings in Tashkent this past spring killed 47 people.

"The Uzbek government has repeatedly tried to exploit the war on terror to win American sympathy for its crackdown on dissent," said Human Rights Watch's Tom Malinowski, but now "there's a recognition here that when governments like Uzbekistan shut down legitimate dissent, they drive dissenters underground and potentially into the arms of more radical and violent groups. That hurts, not helps, the war on terror."

You Take Risks, Yew Won't
Singapore needs more risk-taking entrepreneurs, says Lee Kuan Yew, the city state's authoritarian “founding father” who has been impressed by communist China's commercial zeal. But his reformist instincts don't extend to the political sphere where Lee's son, Lee Hsien Loong, is decidedly risk-averse. He recently threatened to "rebut or even demolish" his political opponents. As the Financial Times notes, “economic risk-taking may be more palatable to the Lees than its political equivalent.”

INFORMATION

International Parliamentarians for Democracy Condemn Attacks on HK Legislator
The World Movement for Democracy's International Movement of Parliamentarians for Democracy (IMPD) has issued an alert condemning recent attacks and threats to a parliamentarian from Hong Kong. The office of Emily Lau, a vocal, pro-democracy legislator in Hong Kong, was vandalized and attacked by arsonists. According to Ms. Lau, this was the boldest attempt to intimidate her. Additionally, three pro-democracy radio personalities recently resigned from their stations saying they had received threatening phone calls. The recent attacks and threats appear to be triggered by increasing political debate and opposition in Hong Kong to Beijing's decision to rule out popular elections of Hong Kong's leader in 2007 and of the full legislature in 2008. The IMPD condemned the intimidation of pro-democracy activists and called the political leaders of China to recognize the right of citizens to elect their own government. The alert also condemned recent actions of the Chinese government that are slowly eroding freedoms in Hong Kong. The IMPD is an international coalition of parliamentarians dedicated to the defense and promotion of democracy around the world. Go to: www.wmd.org/impd/main.html.

Video Meeting: World on Fire
This B-SPAN presentation of a speech by Yale Law School Professor Amy Chua is subtitled, “How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability.” Professor Chua's book by the same name questions the notion that free markets and democracy will transform the world into a community of modernized, productive and peace-loving nations. Chua argues that in an increasingly globalized world democracy and free markets may contribute to an increase in ethnic violence, resistance to capitalism and anti-Americanism. She suggests that markets and democracy, in their current form, may not be mutually reinforcing in the developing world, and could be on a collision course. For more information go to: http://info.worldbank.org/etools/bspan/PresentationView.asp?PID=1075&EID=557

OPPORTUNITIES

National Endowment for Democracy
Grants Assistant, Washington, DC
The National Endowment for Democracy is seeking a Grants Assistant whose duties will include reviewing and processing final grant agreements, amendments, reports, payment requests and routine correspondence; assisting with meeting and special event planning, and other general office tasks. Must be qualified to work in the US. Knowledge of a NED-useful language, especially Arabic, is also a plus. Please email a resumé and cover letter, including salary requirements, to annamaries@ned.org by July 23, 2004. Documents should be in MS Word format. Alternatively, candidates may mail or fax the same documents to: Grants Assistant Search 1101 15th Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20005 Fax: 202-223-6042 No phone calls please.

National Endowment for Democracy
Fellowship
The National Endowment for Democracy invites applications to its Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program, based at NED's International Forum for Democratic Studies, in Washington, D.C. The program offers two tracks: a practitioner track (typically 3-5 months) to improve strategies and techniques for building democracy abroad and to exchange ideas and experiences with counterparts in the United States; and a scholarly track (typically 5-10 months) to conduct original research for publication. The Fellows Program is intended primarily to support practitioners and scholars from new and aspiring democracies. Distinguished scholars from the US and other established democracies can also apply. Practitioners will have substantial experience working to promote democracy. Scholars will have a doctorate, or academic equivalent, at the time of application. The program is not designed to support students working toward a degree. A working knowledge of English is required. For further details and instructions on how to apply, please download the "Information and Application Forms" booklet available online at www.ned.org/forum/R-FApplication.pdf or visit www.ned.org and follow the link to Fellowship Programs. Applications for fellowships in 2005-2006 must be received no later than November 1, 2004.

Human Rights Watch
Moscow Office Director
Human Rights Watch seeks a director for its Moscow office to represent Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia division in all aspects of its work in the region, to monitor human rights in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, and to manage a small office staff. The Moscow office director will investigate human rights developments in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine in order to publicize and curtail human rights abuses through writing and advocacy. APPLY BY JULY 23, 2004 by sending a cover letter, resume, references, and unedited writing sample (no calls, please) to: Human Rights Watch, Att: Moscow Office Director, 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10118-3299 USA. Fax: 212-736-1300. Email: eca@hrw.org. For full details, visit:www.hrw.org/jobs/Moscow-Director-0604.htm

AFL-CIO Solidarity Center
Program Officers and Program Assistants (Middle East)
The AFL-CIO has vacancies for program officers to work on its Middle East program. Responsibilities include support to field offices and programs, writing persuasive proposals, describing complex activities and developing budgets for those activities. Applicants should be thoroughly conversant with all aspects of regional program activities and current events relevant to the on-going political, economic, social and trade union developments in the region. Full details at: www.unionjobs.com/staff/dc/aflsol-62.html or send cover letter and résumé to: Lisa Humphries, Human Resources Officer, Solidarity Center, 1925 K Street, N.W., Suite 300 Washington, D.C. 20006. E-mail: mailto:lhumphries@solidaritycenter.org.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

August 22 to September 3, 2004, Graz Austria
European Training and Research Centre (ETC) Summer Academy
ETC Summer Academy on "Human rights and human security," with a special focus on post-conflict situations. Contact: European Training and Research Centre (ETC) for Human Rights and Democracy, Graz. E-mail: Contact: IT Ministerial Council and the Democracy Committee, which represents Nordic governments. Contact: Nordic Council, Copenhagen, http://www.norden.org/. E-mail: info@norden.org.

August, 27, 2004, Copenhagen, Denmark
Democracy in the IT Society"
Contact: Nordic Council, Store Copenhagen. http://www.norden.org/. E-mail: mailto:info@norden.org

August 31 to September 3, 2004, Steyning, United Kingdom
"Economic reform in the Middle East: What needs to be done?".
Contact: Wilton Park Conferences, http://www.wiltonpark.org.uk/web/welcome.html lorraine.jones@wiltonpark.org.uk.

CALLS FOR PROPOSALS

Nepal
The Delegation of the European Commission to Nepal is seeking proposals for small-scale financial support for initiatives aimed to promote and protect human rights as well as democracy in Nepal. To get the full guidelines for applicants, e-mail the Delegation of the European Commission to Nepal at: Delegation-Nepal-EIDHR@cec.eu.int or fax number: 01 4423541; and at: www.delind.cec.eu.int/index.htm. The deadline for submission of proposals for applicants from Nepal is Monday 30 August 2004 at 16.00 India time.

Ivory Coast
The Delegation of the European Commission to Ivory Coast is seeking proposals for small-scale financial support for initiatives aimed to promote and protect human rights as well as democracy in Ivory Coast. All the necessary documents for applicants are available at: Délégation de la Commission Européenne (DCE) à Abidjan, Av. du Dr. Crozet, 18, Immeuble Azur, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The deadline for submission of proposals for applicants from Ivory Coast is Monday 16 August 2004 at 16.00 Abidjan time.

Colombia
The Delegation of the European Commission to Colombia and Ecuador is seeking proposals for small-scale financial support for initiatives aimed to promote and protect human rights as well as democracy in Colombia. The full Guidelines for Applicants are available for consultation at: file:///U:/Transatlantic%20Committee%20for%20Democracy/Dem%20Digest/Dem%20Digest%20July%202,%202004/http//:www.delcol.cec.eu.int. The deadline for submission of proposals for applicants from Colombia is 3 August 2004 at 16.00 Bogota time.

China and Mongolia
The Delegation of the European Commission to China and Mongolia is seeking proposals for small-scale financial support for initiatives aimed to promote and protect human rights as well as democracy in China with financial assistance from the EIDHR micro-projects programme of the European Communities. The full Guidelines for Applicants are available for consultation at: http://www.delchn.cec.eu.int/ and at: Delegation of the European Commission to China & Mongolia Development and Co-operation Section, 4th Floor, Qian Kun Mansion, 6 Sanlitun Xi Liu Jie, Beijing 100027 China. Contact Person: Petra Kiel.

Kyrgyzstan
The Delegation of the European Commission in Kazakhstan accredited to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan is seeking proposals for small-scale financial support for initiatives aimed to promote and protect human rights as well as democracy and governance strengthening in Kyrgyzstan. The full Guidelines for Applicants are available for consultation at: http://www.delkaz.cec.eu.int/ and at: EU Delegation of the European Commission in Kazakhstan, 20 A Kazibek Bi 480100, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Telephone: (3272) 917 676, Fax : (3272) 910 749, E-mail : eudel@delkaz.cec.eu.int and delegation-kazakhstan-eidhr@cec.eu.int. The deadline for submission of proposals for applicants from Kyrgyzstan is July 30, 2004 at 16.00 Almaty time.

Mozambique
On 10 May 2004, the European Commission Delegation to Mozambique officially launched a Call for Proposals for micro-projects (Ref: EuropeAid/119-873/L/G/MZ). The deadline for receipt of proposals by the Delegation to Mozambique ONLY is Thursday, 22 July 2004, 16.00 Maputo time. Any application received by the Delegation after this deadline will not be considered. All necessary documents can be downloaded from the Delegation's website at: http://www.delmoz.cec.eu.int/. Questions should be sent by email, clearly indicating the reference number, to: Delegation-Mozambique-IEDDH@cec.eu.int or by fax at the following N°: +258 1 49 18 66.

Indonesia
On 5 May 2004, the European Commission Delegation to Indonesia officially launched the 2nd Call for Proposals for micro-projects (Ref: EuropeAid/119761/L/G/ID). The deadline for receipt of proposals by the delegation to Indonesia ONLY is Wednesday, 4 August 2004, 16.00 Jakarta time. All necessary documents can be downloaded from the Delegation's website at: www.delidn.cec.eu.int/eidhr Questions should be sent by email, clearly indicating the reference number, to the following address: delegation-indonesia-eidhr@cec.eu.int

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

National Endowment for Democracy
New Arabic Resource Database
The Middle East and North Africa Program at the National Endowment for Democracy is soliciting submissions to a new Arabic-language resource database that will serve as a resource for democrats and nongovernmental organizations in the Middle East and North Africa. The Program is in the process of identifying and cataloguing how-to manuals, reference publications, and other related materials (mainly online) that address a wide array of democracy topics, including freedom of information, political processes, democratic ideas and values, strengthening political institutions, accountability, human rights, rule of law, civic education, NGO strengthening and capacity building, freedom of association, free markets, and conflict resolution. NED welcomes submissions, including addresses of Web sites and/or documents, preferably in Arabic. To make a submission, e-mail: kareemad@ned.org.

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We also seek information that may be useful to those engaged in democracy support activities: dates of conferences and seminars, the availability of resources, job openings, etc. Please e-mail us at: demdigest@freedomhouse.org. We will offer some of this information in the Digest and more on our web site, demdigest.net, which is currently under construction.

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Democracy Digest is published weekly by The Transatlantic Democracy Network, a cooperative effort of the World Movement for Democracy (which provides "Information") and Freedom House (which edits "Issues"). This is a double issue of Democracy Digest, combining the weeks of the Fourth of July and Bastille Day.