POL112H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Iranian Revolution, Arab Spring, Sub-Saharan Africa
8 Feb 2016
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Document Summary
International assistance with the specific goal to foster and advance democratization. Nearly every western government gives some aid for democracy- building. Support for institutions and processes crucial to democratic contestation executives: free and fair elections and political-party development. Strengthening and reform of key institutions checking power on: parliaments, judiciaries, and local governments. Support for civil society: public-interest ngos, independent media, labour unions, and civic-education initiatives. Assuming that post-authoritarian dynamics will sweep aside all resistance to democratic change: in general other types of authoritarian regimes can take over another rather than a democratic regime. Aid organizations operating more for the interests of aid providers than recipients. Obsessing over risk reduction and central control, choking off innovation and flexibility. Loss of democratic momentum: democracy"s failure to keep expanding has sapped energy, failures of large democratic investments in afghanistan and iraq aid. Closing of doors to democracy aid: dozens of governments block, limit, and stifle democracy.
