The global debate on democratization and human rights can be sharpened by paying greater attention to specific problems of political and institutional reform at the local, national and international levels. This programme provided an opportunity to learn from experiences in countries, beset by economic crisis, where efforts are being made to create an enabling environment for democratic governance.

The promotion of democracy and respect for human rights is a central aspect of development. It is also a very complex undertaking. Thus despite the growing strength of the human rights movement, there is still a wide gulf between the articulation of global principles and their application in the majority of national settings. The same can be said of democratization. In fact, a large number of countries attempting to move toward democracy are suffering serious crises of state capacity and governance. And without a stable and efficient public sector that enjoys the confidence of the population, it is virtually impossible to uphold the basic rules of political competition on which democracy depends.

This UNRISD programme explored some of the political and institutional factors affecting the creation of an enabling environment for democracy and human rights in different country settings. The international context is important in this regard, because strong pressures for reform are often exercised in a piecemeal fashion by global actors without adequate appreciation of inconsistencies in approach or the unintended consequences of their policy advice. Case studies highlight areas in which new approaches are required.

Research projects from this Programme Area are listed on the right.