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perceptions which need to be brought into a broad consensus framework
within which democratic reforms can take place. The emphasis of IDEA’s
democracy support programme is on the consistency of the principles and
values of democracy as a political system and mode of governance. Given
this understanding, it’s partners have necessarily been those groups of actors
who share common principles and values of democracy. Values such as the
right of people to live in freedom, peace and security; the right to choose
the government of their liking and to participate in the affairs of their society
have been critical to the organization’s capacity building methodology.
The democracy assistance programme is therefore about identifying partners
and working with them to entrench these principles and values in their
respective societies.
Overview of IDEA’s capacity building/dialogue methodology
Advancing democracy goes beyond strengthening the electoral process; it
also entails the consolidation of democratic institutions and practices. It includes
all aspects of governance and the relationship between the state and
its citizens. The challenge today is not simply to establish and maintain democracy
in form, but to achieve it in substance. This is a long-term process
that must be nurtured within each society through dialogue and participation.
The mandate of International IDEA is to promote and advance sustainable
democracy worldwide. The Capacity Building Programme works towards
attaining this objective on two levels of interaction.
First, it works on the ground in specific countries. The Capacity Building
Programme aims to enhance a country’s capacity for democratic reform by
increasing the range of options and comparative lessons available to actors
and institutions who perform key functions in democratization processes,
and thereby improving their performance.
Second, it assists the international community in improving the quality
of its interventions, both in political support and in resource allocation to
countries involved in democratization processes, as well as by developing
and advocating common approaches on strategic democracy assistance.
The country programmes obtain significant regional spin-offs in establishing
networks of democracy experts and further initiatives for democratic
reforms. At the same time, the regional context and dynamics constitute
a major component in the country programmes. Hence, regional programmes
gradually complement the country programmes.
The methodology of the programme has been specifically developed on
the basis of the principles for democratic development that International
IDEA is advocating. It is innovative in meeting the challenges of operating
in politically complex circumstances. Considerable efforts are made in continuing
to harvest the lessons from experiences in implementation, and to