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| DEMOCRATISATION AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
Democracy and human rights are intimately linked to dynamics of peace and conflict but tend to be very loosely defined. Internal and external actors have different interpretations of what these principles mean and how they should be put in place and acted upon. This endeavour is particularly problematic in the face of weak capacity in governance institutions and/or systems of power relations which combine to severely limit responsiveness and accountability. Yet it is clear that the denial of basic freedoms and democratic rights and/or continued poor performance of institutions in responding equitably to citizens’ needs can contribute to the outbreak of widespread violence and the perpetuation of instability. In settings emerging from war, instability can also be perpetuated by psychological trauma and a sense that those that have perpetrated gross violations of human rights are enjoying impunity.
The IfP's work on these issues will focus on how to improve participation in political decision-making in conflict-prone and -affected contexts. It will encompass analysis of how citizens understand governance processes and institutions and how they can have greater influence on them. Drawing out lessons from four countries in particular (Georgia, Pakistan, Angola and DRC), it will identify the ways and means by which a culture of genuine political participation can be built, and how this endeavour can best be supported by external actors. It will examine political structures, systems and processes (including decentralisation), and whether and how they can contribute towards building peace. It will also look at obstacles, such as impunity and the exclusion of certain population groups, which impede the emergence of stronger state-citizen relations and better governance more broadly.
The IfP partners collaborating in this work are The Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’, European Peacebuilding Liason Office (EPLO), La Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior (FRIDE), International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), International Alert and Partners for Democratic Change International (PDCI).
Cluster coordinator: Lucia Montanaro
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LATEST DEMOCRATISATION AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE PUBLICATIONS
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The European Union and Transitional Justice
Author(s): Laura Davis
2010-06-15
Transitional justice can help societies address the legacy of systematic human rights violations committed during violent conflict and repressive rule through prosecutions, truth-seeking, reparations and institutional reform. Transitional justice is not a new field for the EU, and the EU is a major contributor to transitional justice initiatives, especially international criminal justice. This paper analyses EU policy provisions for transitional justice. It argues that rather than simply support endeavours undertaken by others, the EU should draw on its experience and international best practice to develop a holistic EU approach to transitional justice to help it meet its foreign policy objectives. |
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The International Community’s influence on state-society relations in Angola
Author(s): Sarah-Lea John de Sousa
2010-06-01
This paper argues that the international community’s engagement in Angola appears to reinforce, rather than doing anything to improve, the current state-society relations in the de-facto authoritarian system. The economic interests of foreign actors seem to override the commitment to achieve good governance and transparency. Although there are important entry points for international actors to exert a positive influence, what is crucial but still absent is a deeper level of donor commitment from global powers as well as private and public companies and financial entities, in order to overcome the gap between state elite and population and bring about real democratic change and consolidation in Angola. |
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Governance in mining zones in North and South Kivu
Governance in mining zones in North and South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Author(s): Jennifer Smith with Edward Bell'
2010-03-31
This paper examines how despite the fact that “governance” is a key pillar of donor strategies in the DRC, little has been done to try and modify the personal, economic and political incentives that underpin the behaviour of politicians, policy-makers, businessmen or taxpayers. It highlights the need for the international community to rebalance its approach to development. “Traditional” external donors tend to concentrate on directly pressuring the Congolese government actors to behave in particular ways, often offering technical support to ensure the promised implementation of nominal reforms. These donors need to take a step back to assess whether their heavily funded engagement in the DRC is improving the situation on the ground or if, perhaps, it is providing an incentive for continued failure. |
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