Looking back, moving forward

'It is our experience that people, wherever in the world, want their voices to be heard and be counted.  Hence, the imperative to provide assistance to democracy building.'

‘Kenyans betrayed by Electoral Commission’

Interview with Njeri Kabeberi, human rights defender, on electoral violence, ethnicity and politics in Kenya.

by Marcus Lens van Rijn, independent reporter

"Kenyan politics sounds like a love affair. I see a country of hope that has been betrayed over and over. But I remain hopeful that in the end we'll find the one".

The concerns of young people in Westlands, Kenya

Westlands is a residential area in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, where tensions between poor residents and commercial interests express the divisions inherent in Kenyan society. On 18 August 2009 I met with 38 representatives from youth clubs in the Westlands area, to talk about political representation for young people in this part of Nairobi.

Young people say they play a key role in politics

As part of my fieldwork on the role of youth political participation and representation within political parties in Kenya, in August 2009 I held two focus group discussions with youth in Mvita Constituency, Mombasa. Unlike mainland Kenya, which is divided between traditional African religions and Christianity, Mvita is predominantly Islamic and the majority of the young people on this island strictly adhere to the regulations of this faith.

Barriers to effective representation for student organizations in Kenya

On 11 August 2009 I met with student leaders from a variety of Kenyan universities to get a better idea of the way university students in Kenya are organized. While all student organizations in Kenya are represented by the Kenya National Students Union (KNSU), I was also interested in the way in which students organize themselves on their own campuses.

Interview with Susan Mangéni: Representing Kenyan youth at national level

Ms. Susan Mangéni came to be the Youth Chairlady and the automatic member of the National Executive of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) after the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) formed the coalition. Ms. Mangéni is a member of LDP. She said that Kenya has a large pool of youths who participate extensively in politics acting as everything from critical voters to campaigners and general mobilization agents for their parties to foot soldiers and security providers for their political godfathers and leaders from their ethnic groups or regions.

Young, energized and articulate: Interview with Ludwig A. Hlodze

Mr Ludwig A. Hlodze is deputy national youth organizer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He is also personal assistant to President John Attah Mills and an advisor on the role and place of young people within both the NDC and the new government. We meet at the Castle, which doubles as a presidential palace and working office.

The party is the youth: Interview John Boadu

"Our party literally has the youth at heart"  John Boadu, youth organiser for the NPP, tells me. This is because, he explains, "60% of our members are under thirty-five". While quickly pointing out that the NPP is a conservative party, upholding the concept of seniority as espoused in the African tradition, he recognizes the fact that young people play a critical role in shaping and sustaining party politics.

Ghana: Youth in the Convention People's Party

As it is my intention to speak with all political parties to hear their view on youth and politics, I have made appointments with them, with the help of IEA - NIMD's partner organization here in Ghana.

Global Youth Action Network

The Global Youth Action Network (GYAN) is an international network of youth organizations spanning 180 countries, and headquartered in New York, near the United Nations. GYAN is a youth-led not for profit organization that incubates global partnerships and increases youth participation in decision-making. I visited the coordinator in Ghana, to hear his opinions on the challenges for the youth, their representation and participation in Ghanaian politics.

PNC on Youth

Interview with People’s National Convention organizer Emmanuel Wilson

The People's National Convention (PNC) is a party formed out of  the CPP, the first Ghanaian president's Kwame Nkrumah liberation party. The PNC has its origins in 1992, at the start of Ghana's fourth Republic. The party currently has two members of Parliament. Both of them are above 35, which is an age I stick to, when speaking about youth.

Youth Groups call for Action on Youth Policy

Youth groups convened at Ghana's Parliament building last Wednesday to petition government for the implementation of a youth policy. Although Ghana has reached several milestones towards democracy since its independence in 1957, a formal national youth policy has never been adopted.

Youth participation in Ghana and Kenya

I am now in Ghana, and would like to introduce my study on the role, representation and participation of youth in the main political parties in my two research countries: Ghana and Kenya.

It's Akwaaba (welcome) to Obama in Accra

NIMD fellow Gideon Chitanga reports from Ghana

Accra is warming up for the arrival of US President Obama in Ghana tonight, marking his first visit to an African country since his inauguration. The streets of Accra are awash with portraits of Obama side by side with his host, President Mills. Obama follows in the footsteps of his immediate predecessors, Bill Clinton and George Bush, who both visited Ghana during their terms in office.

Analysis: the strengthening of political parties in Latin America

Ernesto Aranibar, Coordinator of Agora Democrática, the joint NIMD-IDEA program in Ecuador, has written an article he would like to share. In the article, entitled 'The strengthening of political parties in Latin America within a countercyclical analytical framework', Ernesto suggests new possibilities for political party development in the region.

'Autobiographies' is online

You can download a copy of our latest publication 'Writing Autobiographies of Nations: A Comparative Analysis of Constitutional Reform Processes"

NIMD launches new book on Constitutional Reform in Nairobi

NIMD's newest publication 'Writing Autobiographies of Nations: A Comparative Analysis of Constitutional Reform Processes' will be launched in Nairobi on June 11. Part handbook, part manifesto for participatory constitutional reform, 'Autobiographies' examines through case studies of Bolivia, Ecuador, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe how constitution-making can be an inclusive, democratic process - engaging both political parties and a widening spectrum of public opinion.

Political Stalemate continues

While a second round of negotiations between the opposition and the ruling party is not yet in the air, the extra-parliamentary opposition has taken time-out for regrouping, and certain new coalitions look likely to form. Whether the opposition will come with an alternative, positive action plan or vision after regrouping remains to be seen.

The extra-parliamentary opposition regrouping will be possibly finalized by the coming August, the latest.

CMD-Malawi: Sharing lessons from fair, peaceful elections

Malawi voted on May 19th to re-elect president Bingu wa Mutharika's Democratic Progressive party, returning Mutharika to office with two thirds of the vote. It was one of Africa's most peaceful and fairly organised elections.

To take account and share lessons from an exemplary election, the CMD in Malawi along with a host of other partners organised a 'Democracy in Progress: Election Evaluation Conference' in Lilongwe on 22 June.

48 Days later: Political landscape remains unchanged

The Georgian political situation has remained largely the same for the last 48 days. The ruling UNM headed by president Saakashvili, the cooperative parliamentary opposition and the extra-parliamentary opposition have yet to reach any tangible agreement. There is still a ray of hope that if the ruling party, parliamentary opposition and certain extra-parliamentary parties launch successful dialogue over constitutional and other legislative changes, the crisis can resolved - to the benefit of the Georgian political system if new checks and balances are approved.

Ziwawa! Music for democracy in Malawi

Parties, churches, and councils across Malawi, as well as the international community have been working in all manner of ways to keep the peace and make sure this week's elections pass off freely and fairly.

Political gladiators and the art of negotiation-led politics

The Georgian public as well as the international community has been looking forward to a positive breakthrough in the battle between Georgia's political gladiators for over a month now. A breakthrough seemed to come on May 11 when a dialogue was at last established between the ruling party and it's extra-parliamentary opposition.

Battle of nerves continues for Georgia's politicians

Inside Georgia the political stand-off is viewed very much as a battle of nerves, a situation where neither side is willing to back down and preferring to wait instead for the other side to weaken.

The First Attempts at Dialogue

Dialogue between Georgia's ruling and opposition parties has finally begun. However, at this initial stage, the common ground and cooperative vision needed to lead the country away from crisis has yet to be found.

Time for two sides to show responsibility

The most recent developments in Georgia are perfect proof that the unsettled rhetorical and political stalemate in the country is doomed to escalate into violence or instability. So, is not now time that both sides -government and opposition, take responsibility for the political processes in Georgia and act to diffuse the looming crisis?

Political standstill as gridlock continues

Amid ongoing political deadlock in Georgia, a way to avoid political crisis remains to be found. The extra-parliamentary opposition suspects the pro-government United National Movement' (UNM) proposed dialogue on that nature of the institutional, systemic and political changes the country needs. The UNM meanwhile rejects the opposition's demand for a presidential resignation.

Will opportunism prevail over dignity?

Jakarta Post, Wednesday, May 3, 2009

The legislative elections in Indonesia which just took place (on April 9, 2009) were intended to form a political platform on which could be established possible partnerships for the presidential race. While parties must wait for the final count, conducted by the General Election Commission (KPU), the general balance of power among political parties is already known publicly.

People’s representatives or parties’ spokespersons?

Jakarta Post, Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Before the Constitutional Court made its latest decision about the legislative elections recently, Indonesian political parties were fairly dominant in influencing legislative elections results.

In the first place, all legislative candidates could be nominated only by and through political parties. No politician could make himself or herself into a candidate without the sponsorship and the support of a political party.

Personalized politics remain dominant

Jakarta Post, Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Indonesia's legislative elections took place in all but two districts, in Indonesia, on April 9, 2009. The districts of East Flores and Lembata in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, were allowed to postpone polling until April 14, 2009, so that traditional Catholic celebrations of the Holy Week would not be interrupted.

Post-Easter Political Landscape

Demand of those opposition parties, which are behind the ongoing protest rallies, to hold talks on terms of President Saakashvili's resignation is "an ultimatum" and can not serve as a basis for a dialogue, Davit Bakradze, the parliamentary chairman, said on April 21. Dialogue does not mean communications only with a radical wing of opposition, Mr. Bakradze further declared today, prior to the beginning of a meeting with representatives of intelligentsia in hotel "Sheraton Metekhi Palace". 'The Government continues meetings with the representatives of society. The key for the authorities is to know opinion of society on processes ongoing in the country, and also steps which the government should undertake"