POL112H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Arab Spring, Authoritarianism
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. Strengthening and reform of key institutions checking power on executives. Public interest ngo"s, independent media, labor unions, civic education initiatives. Assuming that post-authoritarian dynamics will sweep aside all resistance to democratic change. Aid organizations operating more for the interests of aid providers than recipients. Imposing agendas from the top down (we will give you aid, but there are conditions on how you can spend it) Obsessing over risk reductions and central control, choking off innovation and flexibility. Democracy"s failure to keep expanding has sapped energy. Failures of large democratic investments in afghanistan and iraq. Dozens of governments block, limit and stifle democracy aid. In the us, dysfunctional political polarization and surging role of money in politics.
