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Democracy support through party affiliated foundations. Martin Ängeby, Secretary-General SILC. Party support through party affiliated foundations. Support for the development of political parties – a reaction to the fall of single party systems in Europe. Why support political parties?.
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Democracy support through party affiliated foundations Martin Ängeby, Secretary-General SILC
Support for the development of political parties – a reaction to the fall of single party systems in Europe
Why support political parties? • Political parties are a vehicle for furthering the interests of people with perceived common agendas
Why support political parties • Well functioning political parties have a coherent ideology, based on values and assumptions about human nature. • An ideological party takes predictable stands • Political parties express priorities – issues that government should be occupied with.
Why political parties? • Political parties formulate policy – How to address issues and problems. “Eradicate poverty” State control bring economic growth Redistribution of income favours the poor Free market economy and economic growth make everyone richer, including the poor
Why political parties? • Political parties train and select candidates to represent party ideology and programme.
Why political parties? • Political parties in opposition hold the goverment accountable for its policy and presents alternatives
There will be no democracy until democrats are in power… …and the democrats grow in well functioning parties.
”Freedom from oppression” • New democracy assistance policy from 2010 • More support for actors of change, including political parties • Party affiliated organizations invited to take larger part
Rules governing Swedish Party Affiliated Foundations (PAF) • Currently, the government budget for PAF is 8.5 million Euros per year • 70% is distributed relative to parliamentary seats (sister support) • 30% of for competition (system support)
Party affiliated foundations / organizations • Affiliated with Centerpartiet (lib.) • Strong party organization in Sweden involved in the projects and raising extra funds • West Africa, Iraq and Eastern Europe • Affiliated with Moderaterna (con.) • Grass-top approach • Global outreach CIS Green Forum • Affiliated with Socialdemokraterna (soc.dem.) • Largest PAO • Global outreach • Extensive trade union exhange programme • Affiliated with Miljöpartiet (green) • Supports green party start-ups • Staff of one • Affiliated with Vänsterpartiet (former communist party) • Supports Chavez’ “socialism for the 21 century” • Staff of one • Affiliated with Kristdemokraterna (Christ. dem.) • Strong in Africa, Cuba and broader work • Hard to find partners with kosher standpoints on women’s and LGTB rights
Affiliated with the Swedish Liberal Party (Folkpartiet Liberalerna) • Works in totalitarian and post-totalitarian countries: Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Bosnia, Serbia, Cuba. Small projects in Zimbabwe, Somaliland and Singapore. • Seven staff members, offices in Stockholm and Vilnius • Half of work-programme financed under PAF support scheme, half under Sida’s country strategies • Turnover: 1.6 million Euro
Silcs portfolio Sister support Other money Russia – young activism Belarus – Party center Cuba Regional North Africa • PFP Belarus • Yabloko St Petersburg • PNP Ukraine • AMN Moldova • LDP Serbia • LDS Bosnia • Tunisia
Silc in Russia • Sister support: Jabloko • Project 2011: Communication platform for 2011 elections • Pilot project 2010-2011 • Supports a united from for opposition in North West Russia, NGOs and aktivists in human rights, environment, free media, LGBT groups • Support for election watchdog Golos
Silc in Belarus • Support for social liberal party PFP • Party center in Vilnius • 8 Belarusian parties • 4 Swedish foundations • Programme • Womens wings • Youth • MediaBarCamp • Election observation
Silc in Cuba • Independent press • Independent libraries • Political exchange
Ukraine • Human rights education as front for recruitment
Moldova • Summer booth • Bus tour • New project: minorities • AMN lost parliamentary representation • Uncertain future for project
Serbia - LDP • Training youth • Training women • Training Local branches
Bosnia LDS • Supporting round tables • Supporting party infrastructure • Running out of luck…
Singapore SDP • Linking activists to party (death penalty, caning, human rights, LGBT groups etc) • Not development cooperation according to OECD-DAC guidelines
Somaliland Kulmyie • All women in Somaliland parliament have been trained by Silc
Zimbabwe – ZESN and Kubatana • Social media and mobilization pilot
Venezuela • Exploring partnerships • Paz y Justicia Party? • Sedice think tank?
Silc Publishing • Raises profile • Book stand at every party event
Good advice 1. Make sure you have development cooperation competence on board 2. Be kind to the civil servants 3. Make the case for sister party support whenever you have the opportunity 4. Work with your party international (Liberal International, ELDR 5. Work with professional partners. If administration is a problem, then the whole party is a problem 6. Go for more money 7. Use your youth wing for assignments
Away with any tendency for dictatorship!martin.angeby@silc.seFacebook: Martin AngebyTwitter: MartinAngeby