POL112H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-Il, Authoritarianism
7 Jul 2016
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Document Summary
International assistance with the specific goal to foster and advance democratization: resources, aid, advice. Support for institutions and processes crucial to democratic contestation/competition. Strengthening and reform of key institutions checking power on executives important to have checks and balances: parliaments, judiciaries, and local governments. Public-interest ngos, independent media, labour unions, and civic-education initiatives. Shortcomings of democracy aid: a lot of money spent on democracy aid did not work. Attempting to export western institutional models on non western countries: in muslim countries- want religion connected to state (sharia law, in western countries- they want religion and the state to be disconnected. 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 they have interests and agendas- whats going on in the region, balance of power, propping up allies against enemies in a particular region. Obsessing over risk reduction and central control, choking off innovation and flexibility.
