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Click here to view the entire interview featuring Robert Miller, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Parliamentary Centre of Canada

Below are submissions posted by Canadians to the Democracy Promotion discussion.

Discussion

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FW (Russ) Russell - February 19, 2007 EST (#51 of 51)

I would like to include two quotes to this intervention for our discussion. This first comes from Peter Leuprecht, Director of the Montreal Institute of International Studies and Professor at the Département des sciences juridiques de l’UQAM and can be found on our eDiscussions' website. He said: “But more and more, democracy is, at least verbally, accepted as an important reference. I think it is an ideal and it should be. This doesn’t mean that you can have exactly the same type of democracy everywhere in the world—you can’t have the same democracy that exists in Canada or Switzerland or other countries. But I think there are common features in democracies which are acceptable in spite of cultural differences, and I think many people in the world aspire to a democracy."

The second quote fromes from Michaëlle Jean the Governor General in her speech on the Occasion of the 60th Anniversary of Canadian Citizenship given last week. In fact she quoted an "excerpt from the first Canadian Bill of Rights, adopted and signed in 1960 by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, who named Canada’s first Francophone Governor General, Georges Vanier: “I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I think wrong, and free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.”

I think it's a good thing to keep these opinions in mind when copntinuing our discussion on democracy.

Thanks Kit for "seconding" and supplementing the list of ways and means that Canada can help.

Thus far our conversation has touched on all the principles of democracy as mentioned above but also as mentioned by all of us.

One other element is missing from our discussion: the peaceful transition and transfer of power from one administration to the next. This concern came to me after reading the introduction to a book entitled "African Comitments to Democracy in Theory and Practice"

(http://www.iss.co.za/pubs/Other/ahsi/HammerstadMono/Contents.html) edited by the South African Institute for Security Studies, ISS.

The notion of peaceful transition and transfer of power from one administration to the next then brings into scope another very Canadian concern, that of <b>Human Security.

The ISS posits that While "democracy is not a perfect system of governance, it would be hard to argue that any other system has had the same success in protecting and supporting the political and economic rights of the people living within it." The Monograph continues by stating that "democracy includes includes all the paraphernalia of democratic governance: checks and balances, independence of the judiciary, political party pluralism, minority protection, constitutional protection, political liberties such as freedom of speech and association, etc." (p.4)

It concludes that "... if a democratic system is given time to root itself in strong institutional safeguards and if the principles and values of democracy become internalised among the political élites of a country, then violent power struggles would become a thing of the past." (p.5)

Finally, the ISS has identified four aspects of democracy that are in particular danger of causing human security threats if they are undermined or disregarded. First is the fairness of elections and electoral processes. The second aspect is the right and opportunity to create or be a member of opposition parties and campaign on their behalf. The third aspect is the adherence to constitutional caveats concerning limits on terms in office. The fourth and final aspect is the independence of the judiciary.

Hopefully these lessons learned by our friends in South Africa will assist in our own quest at better promoting democracy and c=democratic values abroad.

jitendrakumar sharma - February 19, 2007 EST (#50 of 51)

I endorse Kit Spence’s views [Feb 15,2007]. Developing and strengthening democratic institutions in every country is the key to peace, prosperity and the rule of law to prevail in the world. Such suggestions make this E-discussion more than a classroom interaction.

As to assistance to the development and improvement of Civil Service, I wrote to the Canadian High Commissioner to India on February 5, 2007: “I think Canadian Civil Services are a more appropriate model for the IAS [Indian Administrative Services]….the first step, however, is to initiate diplomatic action both in Ottawa and New Delhi. …I believe it will enhance Canada’s short and long term interests here if Canadian universities get involved with Indian Administrative Services in such crucial areas as training and assessment for promotion.”

Canada ought to play a proactive role for a global development of democracy and the current discussion, I sincerely hope, will result into practical action.

- Jitendra Kumar Sharma, Ph.D. [U of Toronto], Director, Marshall McLuhan Centre, New Delhi, India.

Marcin Mokrzewski - February 17, 2007 EST (#49 of 51)

#3. What prominent obstacles to democratic governance should Canada address in designing policies and programs to guide democracy assistance.

To ensure a functional democracy it is imperative that all nations strive to uphold the rule of law. By law, I mean non-optional obligation. While the temptation exists within a pluralist society as ours to grant specific rights and exemptions to certain groups, we must realize that the risk of progressively infringing on the fundamental and constituent individual rights within a society (in our case, the Charter, or in a more global sense, the UN declaration of Human Rights). In other words, effective laws within a democracy must reflect the individual and not just special interest groups. Everyone wishes to be accommodated, but this will eventually lead to further fractioning of society into homogeneous groups, rather then the unification required in a functional democracy.

By training a functional judiciary in Afghanistan, or using this as a fundamental requirement as a basis for distribution of aid, Canada can make big inroads in establishing more democratic societies across the globe.

- Marcin Mokrzewski

Janaki Balakrishnan - February 15, 2007 EST (#48 of 51)
Response to Moderator’s Question?

Human rights guarantees and an active civil society to secure the rights of their citizens are the priorities in any country that has an internal conflict, where existing democracy is at stake. Attention to children and youth is the no. 1 priority. Secured and properly administered schools for children are the foremost. Youth, if not attending schools, require protection from armed groups and training institutions for their future career development. Nevertheless, female population, whether children or adults, is endangered more and faces harsher reality than the male population. The Statement of Under-Secretary-General Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict on Feb 5, 2007 at the Paris International Conference “Free Children from War” describes the current situation of children and armed conflict and gender specifics.

In countries those experience conflicts, men are intrigued in violence and women are sensible and tactful, in spite of the hardship. Special attention is required to empower those women, such that they make the civil society active to secure the rights of their citizens, including children. The first profile expressed how women in Morocco were promoted to engage in politics. Women in top alone cannot achieve everything for their citizens, but they definitely make a difference. Further, the 30 women representation is only 10.3% at the lower level and 1.1% at the higher level of the parliamentary system in Morocco. Women amongst the citizens only can make the changes necessary for the civil society, with the support of women at the top.

A recent mission from India to Liberia for peacekeeping and election monitoring comprised solely of women police officers. It is a commendable stunning initiative of a developing country in South Asia. Such decision was made because women police officers appear less threatening, although they can be as tough as men. In a conflict situation, women are more approachable and it makes women and children feel safer. [Toronto Star, Jan 20, 2007]. Canada should consider such initiatives as an option in the future to overcome the obstacles that they face today in democracy promotion. Canada should take initiatives to promote and utilize professionals and expatriates to work in the field on development projects that would incorporate democracy promotion through women, youth and children. Generally Canadian students and youth are given opportunities through churches and institutions. Women professionals and expatriates specifically haven’t had much opportunity in the past.

The second profile indicated the unattached independent role of an advisor or mediator. It is perfectly acceptable. However, such services need not be secret, but should be made public, and public enough that every citizen of the civil society is informed of the progress and the outcome. In the past, such services of Canada were kept low profile which lead to misinterpretations. On the one hand Julien Doucette-Préville #46 is correct that some countries see democracy promotion as an imperialist ploy to enable western economic interests the ability to infiltrate their country and exploit it. On the other hand, we also have to accept that a few countries represent such interest. Canada certainly has proved its genuine interest in the past and will prove in the future as well. But it needs timely and effective publicity, that such efforts are not overridden by others.

Kit Spence - February 15, 2007 EST (#47 of 51)
I'd like to second Russ's suggestions that we provide practical assistance in the development of democratic institutions of government. I would extend his list to include assistance to the development of the civil service as well. Democratic governance depends on a professional administration to implement the policy direction of government in an efficient and unbiased fashion and Canada has a depth of expertise that should be tapped.

Of course, I continue to advocate assistance to political parties as well in the processes of democracy and the responsibilities and roles of parties.