Seminar: Muligheder og udfordringer ved politisk støtte til unge demokratier

TIME: Wednesday, 28 November, 13.30 – 17.00

VENUE: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, Strandgade 71, ground floor, Christianshavn, 1401 Copenhagen K.

TIME: Wednesday, 28 November, 13.30 – 17.00

VENUE: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, Strandgade 71, ground floor, Christianshavn, 1401 Copenhagen K.

‘Political’ democracy support by parties and political foundations has played an important part historically in democracy promotion and continues to be the centre ground of action for many democracy activists. Yet, interesting challenges face these explicitly ‘political’ democracy supporters today.

On the one hand, concrete challenges in world politics today stretch the capacity of these organizations in new ways.

On the other hand, key underlying questions continue to revolve around how political party support work fits with the agendas of key international donors – especially those which perceive ‘political’ democracy support as potentially partisan or overly political.

What should be the role of explicitly political actors in democracy support today? What opportunities and challenges are these types of actors faced with today?

In the context of rising debate over democracy’s multiple potential meanings, how conducive are the politically neutral aims and technical management instruments of donors in facilitating the work of party political and political foundation actors?

How, and to what extent, can the politics of democracy support be played out today in the professionalized structures of democracy assistance?

To examine the unique contributions but also the complications of political party and foundation work in today’s democracy support, this seminar brings together scholars who have reflected on the role of politics in democracy assistance and practitioners who have sought to find effective ways to navigate the complicated waters of politics in assistance work.

Specifically, the seminar explores both the opportunities and the challenges surrounding the question of ‘politics’ in political democracy support work and asks what the role of political democracy support work should be today.

Speakers:

– Christian Friis Bach, Danish Minister for Development Cooperation
– Milja Kurki, Professor, Aberystwyth University
– Thomas Carothers, Vice President for Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
– Roel von Meijenfeldt, Chairperson, European Partnership for Democracy
– Andrea Ostheimer, Programme Director, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
– Steen Christensen, International Consultant, the Social Democrats
– Bjørn Førde, Director, DIPD

PROGRAMME:

13.30-13.40: Welcome; Bjørn Førde, Director, DIPD

Panel 1: The Challenge of ‘Politics’ in Political Democracy Support Today

13.40-14.00: The Challenge of ‘Politics’ in Political Democracy Support Today; Milja Kurki, Professor, Aberystwyth University

14.00-14.20: How to be Political, without being too Political; Thomas Carothers, Vice President for Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

14.20-14.40: How can Danish Development Cooperation Respond to the Challenges?; Christian Friis Bach, Minister for Development Cooperation

14.40-15.10: Open Discussion

15.10-15.30: Coffee Break

Panel 2: Reflections on the Role of Political Democracy Support Today

15.30-15.45: Steen Christensen, International Consultant, the Social Democrats

15.45-16.00: Roel von Meijenfeldt, Chairperson, European Partnership for Democracy

16.00-16.15: Andrea Ostheimer, Programme Director, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

16.15-16.45: Open Discussion

16.45-17.00: Concluding Remarks; Milja Kurki, Professor, Aberystwyth University; Thomas Carothers, Vice President for Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Chair: Bjørn Førde, Director, DIPD

The seminar will be held in English.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Read more about the seminar and use the online registration form on the website no later than Tuesday, 27 November at 12 noon.

Please await confirmation by e-mail from DIIS for participation.